Perfect Moments & Year End Thoughts

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try one more time.” … Thomas A. Edison

As we get ready for a new year, 2014, I wonder what will be your commitment to yourself to make it an even better year than I am sure it is already going to be? Taking personal responsibility for your future puts you in better control of your life, your work and your relationships. We all deserve the best in life, so lets make it happen in a big way in 2014! More time for friends and family, more time for physical activities, hobbies and little getaways; more time for quiet; for meditation; for prayer. More time for slowing down and smelling the roses. Basically, mine is a commitment to avoiding that which stresses, and to focus on health, well being and relationships. That is my 2014 commitment. I may not have everything I want in life, but I am blessed with everything I need, and for that I am grateful. Life never turns out the way we want, but we live it the best way we can. There is no perfect life but we can fill it with perfect moments. Here is one of my favorite perfect moments in the garden with nature.

Growing Kitty Collection

Three more little wooden kitties joined my collection this Christmas; thanks to Chris and one of his gifts to me.  I now have 17 wooden cats, but my total collection is 23 and includes some that at not wooden.  Can you tell I love kitties?

Chesterman Nearing Retirement

It was early 2002 when Chesterman came into my life.  Almost 12 years later, and nearly 311,000km, he has served me well.  Probably the best vehicle I have ever had, and because of that, and because he still seems to have so much more left in him, he will retire on Bowen as an "island" car.  He doesn't need to put on 65 to 70kms a day taking me to and from work anymore, he has done that enough.
This afternoon I cleaned and vacuumed inside and did the windows, and Monday morning he will get an oil change.   That will be about it for a while; not sure if I will replace the wheel bearing that is going, or the 4 shocks that have worn out, or even think about why he's burning oil.  He will be great to run around the island and to have Jake in.  For commuting purposes I will be changing from this oh so awesome Rav4  to a 2014 basic model Matrix.
Here is Chesterman this afternoon in his Christmas Rudolph costume with antlers and red nose.

And a great spot to retire in the back yard:

Christmas Eve

No special plans this Christmas.  It is hard to motivate Chris to take a ferry off island or drive any distance at the best of times, so when Christmas rolls around, he is content to cozy-in on Bowen.  Our little Christmas tree was a perfect table top fir.

My sister Florence sent a lovely photo ornament which you can spot it you look closely into the tree below.

On Christmas Eve my friend Barb and I went to an early service, and returned home to spend the evening dining on various seafood and a home made caesar salad, all prepared by Chris: salmon mouse, smoked salmon, scallops & bacon, dungeoness crab freshly cooked in sea water, fresh bread and a little vino.  Raspberry sorbet and fresh pomegranite for desert.

Christmas morning Chris cook poached eggs with poached smoked black Alaskan cod. Just too yummy.

And here is a lovely sunset on Christmas day!

Merry Christmas!!

The Shortest Day of the Year

Yes!!! Dec. 21st is here and going forward means the days are getting longer and lighter! We had a snowfall yesterday; a little early for Christmas, but it is lovely snow and we got to play in it today; Jake and I:

The pond is frozen now, and we hope that Fred and the other fish are snuggled up in the mud below.

Jake had a date with Cologne today, and the two of them played all afternoon; loving the snow and the company.

The back property was looking so pristine and the snow like a blanket of whipping cream; until these two began their play. They left no snow unturned!

Jake doesn't have any other playmates, so when these two get together they waste no time.

The sun set early at 4:16pm. I took this shot of the two dogs while it was still light. They look the part behind the gate, doing their job on duty. Would you enter the gate?

Mates

Jake and Smoke. Aaah!

There is FUN in Fungi!

On a recent walk with Jake in the forest trail across the road, we spotted an amazing amount of fungi on the trees; more so than usual. Now fungus has never been particularly high on my list of things that interest me, but as I age, I tend to be more curious. I decided to take some photos and google them.

These are common Artist "Shelf" fungi. They have pores instead of the spores that mushrooms have. This artist shelf could grow to about 12 inches; they grow in layers like tree rings.

This funky looking fungi is Orange Jelly, and apparently it is edible! Neither Chris nor I would ever consider tasting this delicacy. I found a good fungi guide-book, so now we will be able to identify all the cool mushrooms we come upon as well; there are so many in this area. One cool mushroom that we found earlier this year is the Morel. These are very expensive in the stores, but they are growing in a secret area down the road. Morels pop out about the same time as the crocuses do, so we will be sure to look for them this spring.