First Deer in 5 Years

We were driving along 20 Ave before 176 St., the truck route and guess what? 3 deer crossed the road and walked up into the 1 acre subdivision. We used to see them along 0 Ave all the time but since this area has been subdivided and 100 homes built, never again. This was our treat on New Year's Eve.

Great Christmas

Being home for the first time in 7 years is turning out to be lots of fun. We ferried over to Gibson's Christmas Eve and Adam and Shannon and girls joined us for our traditional German cold cuts with sausages, cheeses, breads etc for dinner.
Next, the family went to the St. Barts' Church service which was really nice.
We started Christmas morning with huge Christmas stockings, then presents for all. It was a delight to see the kids and us too opening gifts and having so much fun.
We had a surprise visit from Lilibeth, a wonderful women sho was their nanny for 3 years.


Christmas dinner was at James's sister with 6 grandparents and the kids downstairs having a wonderful time with their Christmas presents. A wonderful gourmet dinner from Caroline and Chris.
Boxing day was a great Open House Suz and James have every years for everyone. Best visit was with cousin Tobin and Marika from Victoria. We thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas but must admit we are not used to such a high energy level. We had to wait 2 hours for the ferry on the way home which was very quiet and peaceful reading our books.

2 More Sleeps

I am so excited, I'm vibrating. Can't wait to have a family Christmas starting this Saturday. Just checked the ferries to reserve and they're all booked, so we'll head out at 10 a.m. and sit in line, take coffee, buy a paper and be cozy. We went to the US yesterday and got lots of things, enjoyed lunch and had fun.
It is very frosty in the mornings, note the 80 gal propane tank, down to 30 degrees last night (-2 in Can) We park the car facing East so it starts to thaw before we ever need to go out.
Today I started with swimming my lengths in our beautiful swimming pool and then it was shortening Ron's pants. He's shrunk a bit but is wearing them higher now due to losing some weight, so sure enough I got 2 pairs done for him, a quick repair for a neighbour but didn't get to mine. Isn't that always the way?

Bob's 75th

We had a wonderful party to celebrate Bob's birthday. the whole crowd was there and fun was had by all.

Look Who's Here

We walked into the Elks Friday for pool and big surprise, there were Iona and Dave. It's been about a year since I've seen them.

Finished Trey's Quilt

I found the cutest red, white and blue flannel with a ski theme in Palm Springs last winter, so started the 6th and last quilt for the grandchildren. My sewing 'room' is smaller than most people's so when I need to I go up to the clubhouse.

The Best Christmas Pagent Ever

I went to Gibsons to see the play Suzanne and the girls are in for 8 nights. It had 24 kids and was just fantastic. Suzanne had the lead and Hana was the lead for the kids.

Goodbye to James Canning and Laura

We attended a very nice service for Julie's Dad this morning. He was 86 and had been ailing for the past 6 months. This afternoon we said goodbye to our cousin Laura, a woman who was always filled with love and joy. Rosemary made a lap quilt for her when we heard she was ill in October and her family will give it to hospice in her honour.

Nikki and Bill Open House

One great advantage to staying north this winter is all the fun activities we usually miss. We thoroughly enjoyed the Open House at Nikki's and Bill's Sunday. Some of her grad class I knew from hockey and lacrosse days with the kids. I originally met Nikki at the garbage cans in the back lane in New West when the boys were babies and convinced them to move to Crescent Beach in 1963.

Family Dinner

Ron and I went back into Vancouver to Aunt Gwyn's and hosted the Christmas dinner for 32 people (6 were age 18 mons to 10) We had a fabulous time. We are the luckiest people because we all just love our family.

An Encore Career

Doesn't today's wordage crack you up? I applied and was accepted for a job -with James and Suzanne's company - JumpCharge Marketing, so this will be my 'encore career'. Here's Suze and I in Vancouver where I signed up my first client for the sms texting program.

Won the 99th Grey Cup

We had a great get together at Liz' for the game. It was very exciting and we had lots of fun.

A Very Sad Moment in Life.

We lost our very dear cousin Laura yesterday from Melonoma. She was a special gem in our lives, always filled with joy. As kids we played ping pong and had Easter egg hunts out in Haney. As adults, we enjoyed her, husband Dave and her 2 wonderful daughters, husbands and grandbabies. She will forever be remembered with love.

Visit With Friends

We had a great visit with Irv and Gini and Chuck's son Shane yesterday.

Survived our First Snowstorm

I took my friend Donna shopping yesterday, then picked up Ron and was so excited when it started to snow. This is our first snowfall since 2004. We went to the condo for a visit with Joyce, then had pizza and played Phase 10. The snow was so pretty coming down, all 1 1/2" and we found that our tires were just fine. We'd had trouble in the snow years ago when we found that the tires on that car were 'racing slicks' and needed to be changed.

My New Job

I have now become Suzanne's personal shopper. We need new activities being here for the winter after going down south for the past 6 years. We were going to Bellingham to shop a while back and asked Suzanne if we could pick up anything for her. Well, she came back with a list of sales which were half the price of what they are in Gibsons. She had checked all the ads and now I have done the same and find many items at great sale prices here without the American dollar exchange. Ron and I now have shopped at the weekly sales, then end up at Walmart which matches anybody's sale price. If it is raining, we walk in the underground parking lot which is massive. Even saw a lady walking her dog. Then Ron gets his seniors coffer while I shop. So it seems if we have nothing else to do, we've become Walmart groupies with all the other old folk.

Sun at the Beach

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We often go down to the beach for our walk. It was very windy one day when the sun was setting. There were 'nearly surfable' waves behind the seagull when we faced south, but dark clouds looking west into the sun which was about to set. There is such a contrast you wouldn't believe these pictures were taken at the same time, about 4:20p.m.

Remembrance Day

I always watch the Remembrance Ceremonies and am in awe of the men and women who sacrificed so much for us to live in a free land. Vancouver has been doing these ceremonies for 87 years. There was also a very moving one at Stanley Park with Japanese participants, many whom had been interred during WWII.

Gisela Goes Home

Gisela got 30 minutes notice, was ambulanced to the airport and flew home to Kitimat today. After 11 days for 3 prodedures and med changes, she wouldn't wait to go. Quite lonely here for her.
We celebrated John's 65th birthday at pool Friday night.

Sunny Fall Days

Good news for Gisela today. She will not be having surgery, they are going to treat her condition medically so she'll be going home as soon as a plane is available. Selfishly, Ron and I have really enjoyed this time with her, we don't get to see enough of the family. That will change next years as there are 2 weddings planned. Gisela has enjoyed the sun out her window, it's more than they had this summer in Kitimat. This view is of the Orthopedic ward we worked on 49 years ago.
Walking from my parking spot, I passed a haunted house and ivy figures on a wall, then we had a rainbow on the way home.