quote, itinerary for day one and none

1 Love this quote from Lululemon: We'll take one order of exercise to go, please, with a side of rain. Winter days are too short for treadmills.

2 The hublet is home for a few days and we make the most of day one. After picking him up at the airport it's sushi, ferry ride to Gabriola Island, shopping at Costco and now tea and cookies. 

3 We had no trick or treaters at our home this year. The neighbours fireworks sound like fun though.

work, leaves and cookie monster

1 The union office calls and there are more shifts for me to work in November. The job has been re-posted and even though I don't have enough  seniority to get the job, showing interest is important. Perhaps even an opportunity for the one day a week temp might come open. Possibilities.

2 The rain is not letting up at all. The trees and grass are greening up and leaves on some trees are finally turning yellow. Seems like those leaves should be raked and gone by now. Isn't it almost November?

3 He loves cookies. So what better way to welcome him home than 3 dozen peanut butter chocolate chip oatmeal and 3 dozen chocolate chip cookies! 

finished, planning and morphing

1 Finally finishing the fictional book "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet." Initially it was difficult to get involved in but in the end it was excellent.

2 Making a plan for a new home based business idea is not as easy as it seems. Lots of research and decision making and commitment. Okay the last one is the biggest hurdle.

3 The white board is morphing again. It feels good to prioritize and reorganize and when he's home we can do a bit more.

newt, saga and soaking

1 We see a newt on our walk today. Unfortunately it's dead but we know that lots more are in the area and hope this is a one off. Originally we thought it was a european wall lizard but upon further investigation, nope it's a newt!

2 And so the saga of the pine needle raking adventure continues. Seven more piles and about one quarter of the area left to rake. Hoping the Mr will help me load into the trailer when he is home this coming week. 

3 Hot tub heaven after an afternoon of raking and piling. The water is steamy hot and more than welcome. So very grateful for this luxury.

poppers, crafts and thinking ahead

1 The wood crackled and popped so loudly in the wood stove it reminded me of popcorn popping so I make some! 

2 Lots of people are out shopping for Halloween things so the Christmas aisle in the dollar store is relatively quiet and empty. I find some unique ideas for wrapping gifts for the little ones and am lucky enough to find a shelf with house, shops, trees, skaters and even a Santa. It will be fun to make a Christmas village with lights and snow.

3 There's enough wood already piled outside the back door that it's unnecessary to go out for more in the pouring rain. So grateful that I did double duty the other day.

the challenge is over, normality and tootsies

1 The 90 day running challenge has come and gone and I'm still loving the run. Today the wind blows in my face, the droplets of rain tingle as they touch my skin love running in the rain, and the fresh air is invigorating. Loving the run.

2 Ever have one of those headaches where even your hair hurts? Isn't it divine when it's over with and   life returns to normal; whatever that is.

3 It's a challenge being accident prone. Today a large metal umbrella holder drops down when the umbrella is lifted up and lands on my toes. They're a bit swollen, black and blue but nothing is broken or sprained and walking is no problem. Ah so very grateful to have toes.

musical, image and picture show

1 The rain takes a break in the morning and it's sunny with blue skies. As afternoon comes so do the clouds and winds and by evening the wind chimes let us know the next storm is on its way. 

2 The last of the arbutus branches are in a big burn pile. The evening light casts odd shadows and the branches eerily look like deer antlers.. 

3 Our grapes have not been the best producers. After watching the video it's obvious why and now we know the 'right' way to prune. Thank you YouTube.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxDNGtoVjS0&feature=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ztxonTWzQg&feature=related

accidental art, tickets for two and plaid

1 The colour printer is a little wonky today. The photograph that it prints looks like some sort of abstract work of art. Greens, blues and shades of yellow. The cartridge probably needs changing but that can wait while art is created. 

2 A little rearranging of plans and they can purchase their plane tickets for Christmas. So looking forward to the holidays this year. Our fingers are crossed that she gets the visa and there are no more bumps in the road. It will be her first Christmas so we'd like to make it extra special.

3 It's time for a plaid shirt. Yes. It's time for a red plaid shirt; very Canadian.

pears, musical and drizzle

1 Just when you thought it was safe to go in the garage there it is...another pail of pears! They're all chopped up and frozen. It seems this really is the end of the fruit factory.

2 What does outdoor productivity sound like in Lantzville? A symphony of chainsaws. 

3 Running in the rain and feeling the mist on my face.

that feeling, new neighbour and traits?

1 Monday brings with it that Monday feeling...know what I mean?

2 Joanna is in her 70s and is out for a brief walk. She's been in the neighbourhood for 37 years and has the scoop on anyone and everyone. She gives me some good tips on hotels in Cuba. Apparently she and her husband (recently deceased, bless him) went every year since the 80s!

3 The woodpeckers are loud, noisy creatures and this time of year are extra busy. The females appear to be doing the bulk of the work. Is that a bird trait ?

productive, flowers and chili bowl

1 Sunday was a productive day: raked about 1/4 of the yard where the pine needles and branches are. Picked up and piled the big branches (they'll be burned later), thinned the raspberries and pruned about 1/4 of the grapes. Oh and transplanted a blueberry tree.

2 A few flowers are giving their last hurrah. 

Such beauties.

3 The bowl of chili is piping hot in to the touch and in the mouth. Melted cheese and toast are the perfect with it.

distracting, mess it up and and the winner is....

1 There's a distraction out there and I'm drawn in part way through my run. A garage sale! But I manage to escape without buying anything and meet some more people from the neighbourhood.

2 Grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup are perfect on this cool and blustery day. The cheese is so gooey it spills out the sides and as the pieces pull apart, it stretches and gets stringy, forcing me to get really messy. Totally worth it.

3 There's a list of ideas still dancing in my brain but for some reason it's difficult to decide which one to start with so I put them down on paper and then into a bowl and pull one. That's where to start when there are too many options for creativity!

trees, lunch and birds

1 The trees come down and sunshine pours across the street. As people drive by most of the men stop to ask the owner what he's doing with the wood. The owner takes it all in stride and continues his cleanup.

2 Lunch at a new restaurant with a friend today was a lot of fun. It's called Jar Restaurant and the chef is a winner of many awards and it shows in the cuisine.

3 The hummingbirds are still here and thoroughly enjoying the fresh syrup in their feeders. Here's hoping they will stick around all winter.

over, in the nick of time and ahead of time

1 The air is finally cleared. She explained and apologized and the issue is put to rest. It's good to know for future. 

2 Just as I'm rounding the last corner home the rain clouds threaten to burst and pour out the rain. Even though my legs are tired, they manage to get me through the door in time to stay semi dry.

3 The desk is covered in Christmas gifts and there isn't too much left to pick up. Imagine being done Christmas shopping in October? Of course there's always little bits of bits to get  and a few knitting/sewing projects to finish but the big stuff is done!

leaf dancers, found and perhaps it's true

1 The rains didn't come as promised instead it's a cool blustery day. The leaves swirl in patterns, settle then rise again. Eventually one group of leaves makes it way to a wall and dances no more.

2 The mystery of the missing plants is solved. A neighbour took them and has created a lovely hedge in her back yard. The leaves are massive so she'll have a lot of privacy.

3 The yoga instructor tells me, 'you're a beautiful yogi.' What a lovely compliment considering how much of a struggle is was to do practice today. Perhaps that's part of the learning component of the yoga practice. 

empty trees, cleaned up and ready

1 The apples are finally picked and either given away or preserved in one way or another. The majority of the apples are at the bottom of the trees so there's little ladder climbing.  It remains to be seen if the bears will find the rotting ones that have been tossed into the utility trailer to be taken away. A dining room on wheels! Hopefully they won't take it for a spin if they get inside it.
2 The two raised beds are cleaned out for winter. It's time for planting garlic. Is it best to plant the garlic in the green house or outside - thoughts?
3 It's mild enough that there's no need for a fire tonight. But the fire is laid and ready for tomorrow because more rain is on the way and all that's needed is a match. 

candlelight, vision and the picture is the same

1 Monday brings with it stronger winds and heavy rain. When the lights flicker it's time to get out the candles just in case the power goes out. These candles probably should stay out for the season now.

2 She puts into words the story that she sees. It's only been a few years yet she often is very intuitive and encouraging. It feels honoring and humbling.

3 We see each other through different lenses yet often the picture ends up being the same.

zoned out, smells and what a surprise

1 It's a blustery morning and running in it is a challenge. The sound of my feet pounding the pavement is rhythmic and soon I get in the zone.
2 The apple caramel butter is coming along nicely. I add cinnamon and nutmeg and the caramel scent softens and deepens filling the house with its' goodness.

3 There are hardly any booths at the farmer's market. Perhaps it's because of the cool rainy day or maybe it's just that time of year when everyone is finishing their gardens and want to spend time doing other things. Potatoes were on my list but no vendors had any except the bread man was listening and said he'd bought a huge bag at a different market and would share his with me. So for a dollar he gives me a huge bag of lovely yukon golds. What a kind and sweet gesture. Note to self: pay it forward.

not quite what was planned, raindrops aplenty and sweets

1 It was one of those days when things just didn't go exactly as planned but managed to work themselves out regardless. It seemed like a good time to go for a run and as I run past our home for the second loop a car pulls into our driveway. An apple picker has arrived so the run must wait until the apples are picked and she's gone but then it's loop two and it's done!

2 It's the beginning of the rainy season here on the island and tonight the forecast is for 50-70 km winds and 20-30 mm of rain! I suppose it takes a special kind of person to live on an island in the pacific...one must love rain.

3 A rich strong cup of coffee and peanut butter chocolate chip oatmeal cookies for dessert. What a great way to  quell the sweet tooth that's acting up.

list lover, jet plane and Christmas visitors

1 Our magic whiteboard is setup into sections now. Short term, long term and current goals. It's awesome to see things get erased as they are done. There's just something about lists that is inspiring to me. It's not for everyone but for list people a whiteboard is a must.

2 And he's gone again. This time it's a wee bit longer and a shorter time at home. We try not to think about that as we say goodbyes at the airport and make sure to get one or two extra hugs in before he has to go through security.

3 They're coming for Christmas! We hear from our son in China that they've made a decision to come to Canada for the holidays. We've been hoping they'd come and now we have loads of things to plan for!

dry, sad and hard worker

1 The roof has been transformed from dusty worn cedar shakes into sleek dual black shingles. The crew worked hard and quickly and did a great job. It's all cleaned up. We have a few old flashings to paint out black if weather permits otherwise it can wait until warmer weather returns. Meantime we are dry and cozy.

2 Sad news today that our friends' beloved dog has passed. Grateful to have had the chance to be a part of his life. Beautiful boy...best love.

3 He worked hard today getting the yard winterized; hoses put away, sprinkler system blown out and odds and bits put in their place for the rainy season to come.

holiday prep, treats and fall fashion

1 The paperwork is finicky but it's done and sent away. Six weeks from now we'll have our renewed passports. Time to seriously consider a tropical holiday for January when the weather is dreary.

2 He wants peanut butter rice krispie treats so badly he heads to the grocery store for ingredients at 8 pm! Serious sweet addiction here!

3 There's something about fall and corduroy pants. The thin weave is my favourite and the ones I have on today are a soft luxurious fabric in a tan colour. 

new roof, fire and applesauce

1 The roofers are here to do their magic. They tackle the back of the house, first removing the old cedar shakes then laying plywood, felt and finally the shingles. Dual black is what we have chosen for a colour to go with the grey siding with white trim. Pictures when it's done! Patience now...

2 He gets the new chimney installed and we have our first fire of the season. It's much more efficient and will have less smoke leaking and no creosote odour. 

3 I bit my tongue rather badly today so it's a quiet day for me and him. I'm thankful for the applesauce in the freezer and think more should get made regardless of how much is already in there!

hiking, eating and skyping

1 This afternoon we walked 6.5 km around Westwood Lake. It's a man made freshwater lake and had some very lovely spots. The view from the bluffs was the best part. 
2 Warmed up turkey dinner leftovers 
3 A skype chat with the family in the interior. Little Kes was crawling and standing up on his own and Izzy was bouncing off of the walls! Good times. 

two days worth

1 It was good to spend time south island. We visit with Russ's old school friend and his parents. Everyone had a story to tell and some very sweet memories of Russ's parents. Lots of smiles and laughter.

2 Inge and Wolfgang are avid gardeners. They have pots full of fuchsias and heather. They live on the very top of Triangle Mountain in Victoria  with plenty of sunshine and an amazing view. Once they owned 40 acres, now it's 20. Imagine having 20 acres in the heart of a big city! 

3 Dinner and a visit with some favourite friends. 

4 Turkey, stuffing, carrots, brussel sprouts, yams, mashed potatoes with gravy and cranberry jelly followed by homemade pumpkin pie....Happy Thanksgiving!

5 We stayed up late the night before and so are sleepy most of the day. Adding turkey means we are 'this close' to comas! 

6 So nice to have a holiday together. We will have quite a few days of leftovers now. Turkey chow mein is my favourite. What's yours?

Oh dear...

Well as you might have guessed because 'the man' is home my 3bt posts have fallen by the wayside. So many things to be thankful for though so here's a brief synopsis of them.

1 Coaches are amazingly articulate. At least that's been my experience of late. He is so encouraging how could I not want to run? He tells me, "you're an athlete." I smile knowing my limitations and yet relish the word.

2 Avocados. Fresh and full of green goodness. As a child they reminded me of just a weird sort of butter, as an adult it's buttery deliciousness.

3 Hot tubs every night to warm us up.

4 Raccoons visit nightly. They love to try to get at the bird feeder and eat the bird seed but the feeder is 'animal' proof. They leave kitty alone and focus on the apples on the ground.

5 I'm in a mood and he laughs me out of it. Sometimes we just can't take things and ourselves that seriously. Ir's just not worth it.

6 Before I know it he's got the ladder out and is up the arbutus tree cleaning up some dead branches. It's not all that extraordinary until he's off the ladder and on the tree like a kid. His smile is ear to ear.

7 Our neighbour pops over to see what the noise is all about when he hears Russ up in the tree. In his Scottish brogue he says, "I had to come see what the noise was. I was sure it wasn't a woodpecker!"

8 The greenhouse provided great bounty of tomatoes and cucumbers, carrots and herbs. Now the tomatoes have powdery mildew and it's done. The greenhouse is cleaned out and we'll change out the soil soon.

9 It's fun to pick up the phone and just dial across to the other side of the world. Nick and Sara are pleasantly surprised when we call them this time. Neither of us have ever called China before and we're amazed at how clear and close he sounds.

10 More apple pies are made and frozen. These ones are blueberry and apple with a crumble topping. Winter will be a good season for us all.

11 There's a recipe for Salted caramel pear apple butter . It definitely looks worth trying out. After all with this many apples anything goes right?

12 Baked apple rings yes or no?

red, soup and home again

1 Stewed tomatoes turn into a thick, rich spaghetti sauce perfect for some zucchini noodles. 
2 Chicken soup is the order of the day. It's home made stock, chicken, celery, green beans and spices of the day...just was a man needs when he's recovering from a bad chest cold.
3 Home! He's home for a longer stretch this time. Unpacking is done, tea has been drunk, email checked and after going 29 hours with only sleep on the plane he is 'done!'