Shades of Warm?

It's a good day when its not raining and you can knock off all your outdoor chores by 1pm, leaving about 3.5 hours of daylight to enjoy!
Commuting to and from work  in the dark this time of year takes its toll on your vitamin D stash, and your happy quotient.  When you have a day or weekend like the one we are having, well you just gotta make the most of the sun, and for me, the beach calls.

Hey, its January and the winter sun is shining, and the beach doesn't get any better.   You have to make the most of the day, and for me, the ocean waves roll in gently like a friend.  It feels like summer never left me, because the ocean breezes and smells bring it back again.  2 hours of sitting in the winter sun and I am ready to face the work week now!

Winter Walks

To me there is nothing better than an early morning walk with Jake, when the sun is shining in winter.  At this time of year, with the short days and lack of daylight (particularly when you are working), I treasure my weekends, especially the sunny ones.  My favorite winter walk with Jake on weekends, rain or shine, is a new development area on the south east side of Bowen. 

Lots of new roads being put in and spots being cleared for building, but not alot happening and nobody around.  Peace and tranquility.... and, of course, its along the ocean.   I have a special rock along the way that I sit on, smile at the morning sun, and contemplate life.

 This is my rock.

Shades of Cold

Hello winter, I thought you'd forgotten us! 

After weeks of above normal temperatures in December, we finally got a wee taste of chill here on Bowen as the new year started.  Our pond frozen with a dusting of snow, and Jake loving the first snow, we just simply had to go for a walk.

 

Our morning stroll at the golf course offered lovely shades of cold, and a wonderful spot for Jake to romp.

 

 

 

 Hot coffee at home and a click on of iTunes, we warmed up listing to Dean Martin's "Baby It's Cold Outside".

New Year Thoughts for 2016

I'm feeling good about 2016 so far.  You know from previous years that I am not a fan of resolutions but I am a big fan of setting goals.  I don't like 'resolutions' because I believe you can make changes to your life on any day you want to, so you don't need to wait until January.

What I like about January is there's always a lot of positive energy around because people are excited about making positive changes in their lives including at work.  So while I ponder what my goals will be for 2016, I am also reflecting on what I want to leave in 2015 and not bring with me into the new year. 

I made great steps towards being physically healthy in 2015 and I want to step up my gym visits this year by a day or two a week.   At the same time I'm also aware that I need to make time for my emotional and mental health too. I find more gym activity  helps this, as it's very much "me" time, but I also want to take the time to have weekends away to refresh and relax.

I want to keep in touch with friends more than I have been and generally just spend more time with the people that mean the most to me. 

I spend a lot of time worrying, mostly about things I have no control over so I will try to let my worry-thoughts go, or leave them in 2015.

I want to be more organized and work smarter, and to separate work from life.  I spend 7 days a week on office related issues, and this needs to get back to 5.  

I want to laugh more and be less angry.  I need to find an effective way to release the happy chemicals in my brain so that I can see the humour in most of life’s situations.  Laughter, after all, is the best medicine.  Exercise and the gym should help me with this.

I wonder what your goals will be?   Here’s to a great 2016.

Christmas

Christmas crept up ever so quickly this year, in fact far too quickly for my liking, given that I had to work at the office right up to the end.   In previous years I have always been really organized and had the majority of presents bought and wrapped by December, and decorations all complete.  This year, however, given my work schedule and also the fact that Chris is still limited to the use of only one hand/arm, things seemed to be left to the last minute. I managed a few decorations up, though, keeping it simple.  

   

 Being behind was not such a good thing when we were expecting 5 house guests to share the festive season with us.  Chris’s sons Mike and David, and Mike’s family of 3 plus their pup Frodo gifted us with a Christmas visit this year.   Fortunately time stood still for a bit and we managed to get organized and were all ready when the Weyler clan arrived.

Here is Mike, Shae, Dylan and Halle

And David and Dylan

And of course the 3 generations of Weyler "men"

 Dinner was traditional turkey
 

 

   and even Jake and Frodo got into the Christmas spirit with their cracker hats around their necks, waiting patiently for some leftovers.

Lots to eat, and then lots of time to relax and digest. 

 

 Merry Christmas, 2015!

 

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer(Car)!

All dressed up in her Christmas costume, my little Yaris played the part of Rudolph quite willingly.  Donning antlers and a red nose, she wore her costume well!

I Don't Regret Growing Older!

Whenever I feel old, I count my lucky stars that I’m still here to continue growing up!  Granted, I sometimes forget this when I wake up or go to bed with aches and pains, or see weight gain in all the wrong spots, or feel a total lack of energy!  

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said:  Do not regret growing older. It's a privilege denied to many".   I never thought of it this way.  I kept wishing I wouldn't grow up and when I read that, I not only got a new perspective, I realized that we are constantly growing up.  There is never a point when we can say we are totally and completely all grown up!

This year’s birthday came and went on November 10^th. 

Spent with friends Bob and Susan, we shared a special Nanaimo Bar – or should I say “Bowen Bar”! 

 

But seriously now, I cannot believe I will turn 60 in roughly 22 months.  The countdown is on!!    It is just really weird because I feel no different than 30. Where did those last 30 years go?  I almost can't wait.  I never did celebrate my 50th - too many excuses like, I am not in a good head space to celebrate, or I need to loose weight first, or I will do it at 55.  Too many excuses. I have time now to create a vision and a plan for 60!  woo hoo!!!

 

30 Seconds to Retirement

Much can be said about looking forward to retirement, and for Chris, he had set the date and sold his work van, and was even getting ready to have a tool sale.  One last small handyman job for a long-time customer and he would hang up his tool belt on Tuesday. 

 That's when I received the phone call at work.  "Honey, could you meet me at Lions Gate Hospital emergency?  I've fallen and broken my wrist.  My customer is taking me on the ferry to the hospital.
What??   So I managed to make it to emergency by 4:15pm and there he was, sitting, waiting to be seen by the doctor since 3pm;  wrist distorted, and in a lot of pain. What happened?  Well, apparently he was standing on the kitchen counter hanging curtain rods on a kitchen window and he slipped, fell to the floor, and his wrist smashed against the kitchen island as he was falling!  Ouch!

Chris was finally seen by the Doctor at 5:15 and sent for an xray.  At 6:30 they confirmed 2 wrist bones on either side were broken.  Next he would have to have it set and casted.  A 6 inch needle was stuck right inside his wrist to freeze it so they could pull the hand to set it.  He said it hurt sooo bad having the needle put it.  I can only imagine.

They gave him some hydromorphone at 6:30 but it really didn't help with his pain.   Then they took another xray to make sure the cast was on proper, and we were done, and able to get the last ferry home at 9:30pm. 

The broken wrist just happens to be his left hand and Chris is very much left handed.  He is really at a disadvantage now, and so limited in what he can do effectively.  Things he struggles with include: cutting and buttering his bread; putting on socks; writing; opening jars; the list is long, plus having a stick shift in the car, means he is not driving as he needs 2 hands.  I seem to have become his left hand now.
Chris will have to see an orthopedic surgeon next week at some point to have it checked, but I suspect this will be a long haul.  He won't be chopping the kindling or using the broom and dustpan for a while either.  I'll do my best.

First Time Using a Crock Pot

I recall someone telling me that slow cooking on a crock pot was the way to go in the fall and winter.   Since we have a crock pot, I figured today might be the day to try it out.  Being culinarily challenged, a quick google search and I found an easy recipe for Short Ribs.  I first browned them and then threw them into the pot.

Next I gently sauted onions, garlic and tomato paste, adding 2 cups of dry wine.  It was only later when I reread the recipe that I realized it was supposed to be red wine, but I had used white.  oh well.

I threw in mushrooms and celery and pay and thyme.  Didn;t have any carrots. The slow cooker was on for 6 hours.

 Voila!  With mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts and thickened ribs gravy - I reckon it wasn't too bad. Not much flavour for me.  I'll try a different recipe next time.

October 15th is Bonfire Season

Bonfires are a quintessential part of fall.  Something we look forward to each year as summer ends. Sometimes we gather the neighbours around and sing, barbeque hotdogs, or just have a working fire to clear up the summer garden debris.  On October 17th we did just that - started the fall task of cleaning up all the summers clippings.

There is enough for at least 2 more working bonfires, and, hopefully if the weather holds, a party gathering bonfire for my birthday in November.  If so, it will be the 4th annual.

Fall Colours

There is a peaceful beauty about the garden in October that allows the gardener to simply relax and enjoy it, and relish in the cycles of the seasons.  Autumn Monkshood is one of my favourite flowering perennial that waits its turn in the garden until October rolls around.  These are the striking flowers I now enjoy from the front patio window.  Hard to believe they belong to the buttercup family!

 

To the left of our patio view of the Monkshood, and contrasting these striking blue flowers, are the red, pink and gold leaves of the Japanese maple.

Nature's colour at its best.

Thanksgiving - a Season, Not a Day

It's was a week ago that the Thanksgiving long weekend was upon us. Why there is just one day a year we are supposed to be thankful I will never know.  Being thankful, like gratitude, allows us to enjoy the good things in life more fully.  Thankfulness is like sitting down to a fabulous meal and savoring every bit, as opposed to racing through the meal like it is a competition.  While the latter is typically my style, the former is just exactly what we did.  This year, while there were no family plans or get-togethers, our extended island family helped reinforce how grateful we are for friendships.  Not one, but 2 turkey dinners on the weekend.

Our good friends Bob and Susan laid out a wonderful spread for us and their daughter Lauren on Saturday night.

Sunday night, the Hunter clan had us over to share in a much contributed dinner for 14!

Friends Sheila and Bonnie.

 

  Bonnie supplied the brussel sprouts, beans and mashed turnip. 

 One of the amazing dishes I had never had was roasted yams with marshmallows on top. 

 One of Sheila's traditions.  Go figure!

 The Hunter grandkids

 

 And of course George - the patriarch! and grandaughter Georgina!

 Chris was thankful that we were invited out both days so that I didn't have to cook. 

 I was thankful too! And FULL!