Christmas in Victoria

I spent Christmas with Kevin in Victoria.  The weather was the best that I have ever encountered for the holiday season and Victoria really sparkled in the sunshine with the warm temperatures.  When we went to the Ogden Point Breakwater on Boxing Day I saw some people with ice cream cones and decided to join them.  I have never had an ice cream cone on Boxing Day before!  But it was 10 degrees and the sunset was just amazing so we had our ice creams as we walked along the breakwater.
The crowds and the traffic made me realize just how happy I am to be from a small town where the store clerks greet me by name.  Each day once I was tired of shopping we went for a walk on a lovely beach.  The wind stayed away.  The ocean was almost still when we went for our walk on Christmas Day.  Aubrey came for a visit and joined us on the beach.  One photo was taken at Beaver Lake of a tree stump with branches growing out of the top.  The water was so still that the photo almost looks alien!

Click on the link below to see some photos.

https://plus.google.com/photos/113073139514467568732/albums/5970502899620042225?authkey=CJzNiqz-5oGjfQ

Diarmid has returned!

Diarmid has moved back to Canada.  Jenn and kids are coming once things are settled.  Diarmid came to visit for two very short days but the weather was so incredibly beautiful that many photos happened.

Thanksgiving 2013

We had lots of fun this past weekend with Wanda and Hezz, Gord and Deanne and family and Kevin coming to visit.  Adele and Steve and Casey hosted Thanksgiving dinner and we explored much of the countryside.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hike to Pulpit Rock

http://www.trailpeak.com/trail-Pulpit-Rock-near-Nelson-BC-1275

In a moment of insanity I agreed to hike up to Pulpit Rock with Annette, Betty and Cheryl.  Our goal was to hike up to the Flagpole and have a photo taken with the flag.  When we parked at the bottom of the trail I was enthusiastic.  The approach to the trail was a bit daunting and I almost quit before ever setting foot on the bottom stair!  But decided that was premature and repeated the whine about 500 feet further along.  Then determination kicked in and I decided to give an honest effort, frequent whining notwithstanding!  Annette and Betty soon were dispatched on their own - they could have done the trip twice during the length of time that it took for Cheryl (bless her heart) and I to reach Pulpit.  When we finally reached Pulpit there was no longer any consideration of further climbing in me.  Cheryl stayed with me, Annette and Betty hiked on to the Flagpole.  While we rested our eyes and hearts were being filled with the amazing sights of the lake and the fall colors of the nearby forest and Nelson and the mountains and the sky. 
The hike down is far easier except for the complaining from my knee!  Many volunteers have made the trail so much better over the years.  After my last hike up there about ten years ago I thought that I would not be doing that again.  Now I wonder if I am yet done wirh that trail!
 

 

 

Summer 2013

We have been invaded by wild turkeys!  Too early for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  This was taken from inside my front door.



Kevin came to help me clear out the basement before moving.  He found a few things of his, much went to a church garage sale and some went to the dump.  One day we took some time off and went to the Pilot Bay lighthouse.  Short drive, short hike, gorgeous view. 

 

Kevin on the deck of the lighthouse with the ferry in the background.

Kevin and I on the Osprey, looking at the Balfour and incidentally the gorgeous lake towards Kaslo.

Waiting for the Osprey to land at Kootenay Bay to bring us back home.

The box of Star Wars stuff that went to a good home in Calgary.  The box had arrived at this house containing a bathroom vanity top.

 

Spring 2013

Haven't been here for a very long time!  Spring was great with the momentous decision to list my house and move into a condo in town.  The cleaning, the junking out and waiting for the perfect people to come to my house. It is now July and they haven't yet arrived but this is a waiting game.  When Mom and I found this house it was just perfect for us and we saw many that weren't along the way.

Kite flying on Easter Sunday with Bonnie 

Dinner with friends - oh I should say great dinner with friends.

In May we went to Carrot River for the 10th anniversary golf tournament in memory of Eric and while there we toured the area - Silver Stream cemetery where Mom and Dad's ashes are interred.

 

The Carrot River cemetery where Eric is buried.

Don't we look as though we have all golfed a whole bunch!  Well, Wanda has.

Waiting at the 4th tee to have team photos and a toast to Eric - tequila, Irish Cream or Raspberry Sourpuss for the toasts.

Wanda presenting the Legs Wide Open trophy to the winning team - Gord's

Emily at her confirmation.

The entire confirmation class

Emily and her Mom on confirmation day.

The metropolis of Carrot Riber

Apparently these photos cannot come out in the order that I chose.

Christmas spirit

There are so many incredible people in this world!  When I shop at Save-on Foods at least twice a week I like to go to the till where the cashier's name is Linda.  I don't even know her last name but she is what everyone envisions when looking for the perfect cashier.  She is always cheerful and helpful and we tease one another.  Linda makes each and every customer feel that they are her only one for that day while hustling through her busy shift at the Express checkout.  Last Monday we chatted about our weekend and she told me that she had spent all day Sunday making cookies.  I had been feeling under the weather and had felt extremely proud of accomplishing one load of laundry!
Yesterday(Friday) when I was in the store she handed me a package of home-made cookies.
After thanking her, I was speechless!  Drove home feeling very humble while shedding a tear for her thoughtfulness.  What an amazing lady!  There truly lives the Christmas spirit.
Thanks again to Linda