idea, soak, and her digs

1 We talk about a new job idea. Proof reading and editing scientific papers for people in China. Now that sounds interesting!
2 After my run I soak in the hot tub for a bit. It's a moment in time of soaking up relaxation and sunshine.
3 The cat is finally enjoying her new cat house. It's made of styrofoam and lined with wool blankets. Total cat luxury.

talk, run, read, and blessings

1 There are times when I wonder what our next conversation will be about. Today he calls early, really early because he can't sleep. We talk about the law of attraction and how we can do things to make our lives work easier and simpler. 
2 The run today is 4 km and almost not enough so this evening it's a yoga class with Kathy and the Wednesday night ladies. I am so very grateful that Kathy's hug persuaded me to go to pub night. I met some great women and even though they are rather 'animated' it's just what I needed to get out and meet new people. 
3 The book club meets on the third Thursday of the month. This sounds like fun. I've always wanted to be a part of one.
3a Feeling blessed and humbled to have such wonderful people in my life. Blessings to you, dear readers. 

a few more, not well, and boxing up

1 A few more days of work have landed on my schedule. Yes! 
2 He's not feeling well. It must be tough to be so far from home, in a camp and feeling rotten. If he was home, he'd be in bed with tea and soup. He still calls and even though talk is short, we both are happy to hear each other's voice.
3 It's fun to get packages together for the family. Each person gets special things and it pleases me to think of them and picture the smiles and happiness when it arrives.

can you see the map?, dessert, and coffee talk

1 Walking along the road then through the woods, over the little homemade bridge, through the field and finally back onto the roadway. An afternoon adventure. 
2 There's a slice of apple blueberry crumble in the freezer waiting for me to devour it. Done.
3 Our Skype talk is perfect timing for a Monday morning. We share coffee and catch up and it's almost like we're in the same room. Almost.

breakfast, still happy, and buds

1 The waffles come with maple syrup, blueberries in syrup and some whipped cream. As hard as I try there's no way to finish the last bits of deliciousness.
2 She's pleased with the getaway time even though she missed the ferry by about 10 cars.
3 More buds are starting to show themselves. Lilacs, rhodos, magnolia trees, tulips and some daffodils are reaching towards the sun.

surprise visit, into the swamp, and don't move a muscle

1 My niece comes for an overnight visit. We have dinner and sit in front of the fire, then head to the hot tub. As she talks it sounds like she is forming plans as she speaks. We grow when we are moving forward.
2 The walk takes us into the swampy area and we both pick up sticks just in case there are creatures we don't expect to see. Eventually we come to the other side and are in daylight again.
3 The bird sanctuary just down the road from us is starting to show signs of spring. The birds are singing to each other, ducks are floating on the water and to the far left a blue heron stands perfectly still, waiting for us to leave.

outside, talk, and snuggling

1 It feels good to be out in the gardens and yard. The fresh air smells great, the sun shines and the earth is showing signs of spring.
2 We have a chance to talk longer today and make plans to talk on skype in the next day or so. It seems easier to be apart when we can see each others faces now and then. 
3 I snuggle deep into the blankets and pull a softer throw up near my face. It was warm outside earlier but now it's getting pretty cold. Well, cold for the island.

dentist chair, tea and healing sleep

1 The dentist was so kind. He talked me through it all, had a tv on the ceiling tuned into a home and garden channel and best of all the chair did an upper back massage. 
2 Green tea soothes my tummy.
3 The migraine hits and hits hard. I'm thankful for a good nights sleep to heal my brain.

learning curve, lotion and tea for one

1 Learning Office 2010. Great stuff, new features and 2013 has already been released!
2 The hand lotion is called Avalon Organics and smells like lemon meringue pie. It's silky smooth and perfect for dry hands.
3 Vietnamese tea is rich, steamy and very hot. It never has a bitter taste and is perfect for this rainy Wednesday.

time, cut, sweets, lucky guy, in time and all gone

1 We find the time to just sit and talk about all sorts of things. After five days of running around doing all sorts of errands it feels good to just be still.
2 He needs a haircut and gives the apprentice the opportunity to practice on him. He's sweet and says to her, 'don't worry, you can't do anything that isn't fixable.' Later he tells me he watched her visibly relax after that.
3 Sweets!
Home made fudge
Melt 1/2 c coconut oil. Mix melted coconut oil in food processor or blender with 1/2 c almond butter, 1/2 c cocoa, 1/4 c honey or maple syrup, 1/2 tsp vanilla. Using muffin tins lined with cupcake liners, pour in half inch into each. Put into freezer until hardened. Eat and enjoy! Keep in the freezer or fridge otherwise they melt easily.
4 We get to the airport and discover that because of the fog the past few days no flights have gone out since Saturday. Today he's lucky. Two flights come in and two leave, that's all.  
5 I get to catch up a bit with G. Later this week we'll have coffee and a proper visit.
6 There's something delicious about leftovers, especially when there won't be any left for tomorrow!

Saturday and Sunday

1 He spends the morning at a gun safety class and comes out of it with a certificate and great marks. Safety first.
2 A few more items are erased from the whiteboard and quickly we add a few new ones.
3 The fern is flourishing in its new location. New shoots sprout up and in only a few days it needs turning to it grows evenly.
4 A visit to Victoria to meet up with Emma's mom. We have a chance to talk about what's going on and exchange stories about our respective families. 
5 There's a seal on the dock. He cautiously walks on the planks and eventually meanders over to the swing and plops down on it. It must not be very comfortable because he gets up quickly and soon is sliding into the water and peacefully swimming beside two white swans.
6 Thai food for dinner. We get some take out and manage to make it all the way home before we dive in!

Bliss Balls, who's corrupting who, which ones and seafood

For Leonora
Bliss Balls
2/3 c raw walnuts
2/3 c raw cashews
1/2 c raw coconut
1 c oatmeal (I've used granola sometimes)
1/2 c raw sunflower seeds
Process dry ingredients in food processor to a fine texture. Add 1/2 c peanut butter and 1/4 c honey. Process so it sticks well enough to form balls. Add more wet ingredients if needed. If you like it super sweet add some stevia or sweetener. Roll into balls and put in fridge. Melt chocolate chips, dip half of each ball in chocolate. Keep refrigerated as they soften and melt easily at room temp.
Hope you enjoy them. 
Note: you can put all sorts of ingredients in these balls, according to your taste buds!

1 When you stay up late, you can expect to sleep in. Seriously, 10 am! This man is corrupting me!
2 We zip around running all sorts of errands and even though we have things we think we'll get done, the ones that get done are the unexpected ones. 
3 Seared scallops. He tells me they are done to perfection and we feast on this gift from the sea.

first to leave, Bliss Balls, and mine

1 There is no one but me in the waiting room at the airport. I wonder if he's the only one on the plane. Two minutes to go and suddenly there's a room of waiting people. He's one of the first off of the plane and he's got no luggage except a carry on so we are out the door and homeward before anyone else.

2 The raw food store inspires me to make him some Bliss Balls. They are made from ground walnuts, cashews, oats, coconut, sunflower seeds, then mixed with honey and peanut butter. After they're hardened in the fridge we taste and re-evaluate and decide tomorrow we'll melt some chocolate chips and dip one side of each ball in more deliciousness.

3 His smile is reaches right into his eyes and it is just for me.

8, mother nature, and sheets

1 An early morning walk with a new neighbour leads us to the end of the road and up the mountain and back. 8 km felt great
2 The mist falls on my face and is cool and refreshing. It's like a facial from nature.
3 It is one of my most favourite smells and feel, freshly laundered sheets. There's something about climbing into bed and snuggling right in. 

wars, up again and tea time

1 The hummingbirds are warring with each other. There is one rather large fellow who sits in the tree near the hot tub and is on patrol duty. The others make noise in the trees, one darts to the feeder but the guard quickly chases him away. They zip here and there and eventually fly over my head and I duck even though I know they're farther away than they sound.
2 This flu keeps knocking me down, I keep getting back up. Little by little I'm mending.
3 Peanut butter toast with tea.

trail, missed the list and google

1 We walk on the new trail that the district built last year. It's along side the railway tracks and totally paved. It's safe and clean and not what you'd expect. I'm told it's paved for seniors and bike riders safety.
2 Quite a few things are done today but how is it that they didn't even make it to my list? I'm tempted to write them down just so they can get crossed off. :)
3 Google provides me with the materials I need to move forward. You just never know what's posted online.

what's in a number, hints and lost

1 He's home soon and we are both counting down the days. This time he's only been gone for 9 but feels like 90.

2 Dr Pepper lip gloss costs $1.49 plus taxes. Seriously, tastes great (no calories), is shiny and leaves a hint of light pink on the lips.

3 I'm caught up in the tv show 'Lost.' The kids told me about it and to be honest I was pretty skeptical. It's pretty intense but good evening entertainment when I'm here on my own. Plus I can knit while watching!

up, who drew that and birds of a feather

1 Two steps forward, one step back. Trying not to whine about this flu bug but holy, it keeps kicking me down. I'm feeling like Rocky, gotta get back up!
2 Baby it's cold outside. Jack Frost has been visiting nightly for the past few days creating some interesting drawings on the windshields around the neighbourhood. I love the intricate patterns and the way it seems less random and more precise.
3 Watching the birds jockey for position at the freshly refilled bird feeder is like watching bouncing balls. They swoop in, land, peck, and dart away as another is waiting to take its place.

vertical, salvation and gonna do it

1 I have resurfaced after a bout of stomach flu. Good lord, no one told me a train was going to hit me! Happy to be back in the land of the living.

2 Who knew, that a small can of ginger ale would save me. Little sips of sweetness minus the bubbles tasted like heaven. Even when I was afraid to sip, I sipped.

3 Circular knitting needles. First time that I've had a pattern call for it. I'm up for the challenge. Okay maybe in a couple of days when I can see straight again. I'll be ready!

point me in the right direction, clickety-click and simplicity

1 The morning begins with winds and light rain, but by the afternoon it's giant flakes of snow and a slush that makes the roads much too slick to drive on. I head for home as soon as my errands are done.

2 I'm knitting again and my hands are thanking me. The movement is consistent and I can rest regularly. The cloche hat is so sweet and the purple will look gorgeous on our little Izzy. Kesler gets a toque next. Should it have ears?

3 A simple meal, cuppa tea and a ginger cookie. Yup, sounds perfect.

catching up, minus four and nine

1 We spent a couple of hours catching up on all sorts of things. We put each other on pause/hold whatever to get more coffee, turn down heat and just fidget. It was pretty darn close to being right there. 

2 Four things get crossed off of my list. They're not huge time consuming things but still they are done. Oh wait, cleaning and refilling the hot tub was a big job. Glad it's done for a few months. Now I summon patience while it heats up.

3 He gets news that this time he is only away for 9 days! Nice way to get back into the swing of working away. 

reminiscing, none left and le list

1 We find a raw food store near us and stop in for a quickie bite. The quinoa bowl had a dressing so similar to a dish they used to serve at the Rice Bowl in Nelson that it felt like going back in time and place. It made me miss Nelson just that much more.

2 It's almost 3 which means just a few more minutes and he's away. We linger at the airport not wanting to say goodbye but eventually he makes his way through security and we have one last wave.

3 Lists aren't for everyone but they are definitely for me. There's something about the creation of one. Listing things on a piece of paper, then numbering to prioritize and finally the big cross off the paper line that is usually bold and final.

secret ingredient, happier and zzz's

1 The soup pot makes it way onto the stove top and a luscious pot of soup manifests itself. Okay, I made it and here's the ingredients...ground meat, onions, celery, carrots, peas, chicken broth and last but not least an ingredient that transforms soup from plain to fantastic - salsa.

2 The plant is dry as a bone. How on earth did it get missed? It's happier the instant it gets water.

3 Time to tuck in, as my dear friend S says. Wrapped up warm and cozy, now it's time to sleep.

noodly, classy and please don't count down

1 We share his Christmas gift to me by both having massages! Mine is a one hour back massage with an RMT and he gets an India head massage. Both of us look a bit groggy when we meet up in the lounge afterwards.

2 A trip up island to Courtenay leads us to an amazing restaurant called, 'The Locals Restaurant.' Everything served is local; greens, fish, meats, sauces, even the wines. My meal is potato crusted cod served on a bed of greens and his is a seafood trio of salmon, halibut and tuna. The food is amazing. The restaurant matches the excellence of the food with it's simple but elegantly decorated space in soft hues of green, natural photography and touches of class.

3 Two more sleeps and he's gone again. We try not to think of it and just enjoy our time together. He softly holds my hand while we are driving and that feeling makes its way into my memory treasure box.

laziness, mealtime and planting in january?

1 Talk about a lazy couple of days. 

2 Pad Thai. Gluten free rice noodles delightfully flavoured with lime, brown sugar, soy sauce and diced scallions. Eggs are cooked with minced garlic and the white bits from scallions then added to the noodles. It's all topped off with chopped peanuts and cilantro. Now that was easy. 

3 The ground is soft enough that the cedar trees are replanted in better locations and that job is crossed off of the white board. We now have to consider what other options there are for filling in holes in our  mini forest so we don't see into our neighbours yard.

story, ease of use and phone app

1 A cool wind means we walk just that much faster. The trees are swaying gently but the pine needles scattered all over the ground tells a different story.

2 The living room is rearranged so we can share the large couch facing the screen. The patio doors are now more accessible and the area for wood near the woodstove is easier to get to and easier to clean up.

3 WeChat is the new app we have on our phones. The kids call us from Hangzhou and take us on a tour of their apartment and we can see the view from their deck. It's trying to snow there. Just wee bits but we can see random flakes go by.

A very happy new year full of blessings to you all

1 What a great way to start 2013! I go for a run while Russ makes us a breakfast of sausages, eggs and toast. We get geared up and go for a motorcycle ride to the beach to watch the local polar bear swim and hang out near the bonfire. 

2 We warm ourselves with hot tea and later he heads out to replant some cedar trees and I take a nap in front of the wood stove. 

3 We end the day with dinner at the local pub and watch a documentary, "The Prize; the epic quest for oil, money and power." He found it on a site called Top Documentaries.