Penny and Ron's New House

Penny and I graduated from Saint Paul's Hospital Nurses Training many years ago. They have just moved out of the house they've lived in for 40 years. I helped her with her garage sale and today helped unpack and re-arrange furniture. Moving is so confusing because nothing fits in the right places. We had fun together.

Annual Ladies Luncheon

We were invited to Elisabeth's today for our annual pot luck lunch. We are so lucky to have this group of incredible friends, as close as sisters. We had a wonderful time of course.

Bid Euchre

Had fun today with 6 friends who came for a pot luck turkey dinner and we played bid euchre. We always enjoy this.
I stopped at the new Info Center for tourists on Hwy 176. It's been there a year now and never see too many people there. You are greeted with the painted bear and RCMP one as well.

Fun with Stan and Sylvia

Ron's niece Sylvia and Stan were is Victoria for his niece's wedding reception on the weekend and came here today. We met them for dinner at the Olive Garden and then led them to their hotel and visited some more. Had a great time seeing them. This picture is the only one I have from way back in 2007 but also includes Ron's sister Gisela. Definitely time to go to Kitimat and visit with the family in the spring.

Jump Charge Marketing

This is the new business James and Suzanne launched at the 2 workshops the past 2 Thursdays. Great info and great attendees. Their businesses ran from bed and breakfast, photography, dog training to real estate and more. Very interesting for me. Business today is so different from when I quit working in 2002.

Off to the Ferry

I took Buster for a walk last night and once he got going, he broke into a gallop and I was flying down the street after him. We had to say goodbye this morning and head to the 8:30 ferry.
Suz and the girls are going to Bellingham for back to school shopping. A tremendous saving.

Facebook, Linked In and Twitter Workshop

We had the 2nd half of Jame and Suzanne's workshop today and once again very informative and well received. Chris even started a Facebook group for the attendees. These business owners were the nicest audience and very spontaneous with their sharing of information. I was impressed by all. It was such fun for me to help and be involved in a business environment again.
The next best part was lunch at Smitty's Oyster Bar.

Pre-op Prep at VGH

Ron and I spent 3 hours at Van Gen Hospital for tests and info. He was assessed by Dr. Gordon, Dept. Head, and will have 1 of their 18 cardiology anesthetist specialists. We felt completely reassured by all the care taken. He's booked for the open heart surgery Sept. 2 and can't wait to get it done. Our brother-in-law, Jack came by and visited with us for an hour.

A Gibson Day

Suzanne and I went to church by ourselves today. They have the nicest congregation at St. Bart's and a new minister.
The deer comes to visit the front yard daily.



Buster sleeps in his bed, paws in the air.




Hana and I did some sewing. She made a pillow of white fur on the front and black and gold/brown diamonds on the back. It was the first tine either of us had sewn on fake fur, a gift from aunty Penny.








Lexi and I do our usual Sudoko.

Happy 10th Birthday.

Hana had 3 teams of 3 girls in their yellow, green or pink bandanas to play the Amazing Race for her birthday. The kids had to run, skip or hop up and down the street to 5 different stations and do various tasks to see who finished the race first. At my station, a blindfolded person had to feed antother blindfolded person pureed squash. I laughed so hard - they all thought they were being poisoned. I don't think they'll ever eat squash again. That's what Katzie did to me on the Pirate Ship in Mexico. They gulped dry rice krispies looking for a prize, ran through the sprinkler, had pop floats, squited silly string all over the yard and a ton of fun. Two girls stayed overnight and used their glo sticks to make jewelry for the dark in the hot tub.

More Friends

Kids were over to play today so the fort and water balloons got a workout.



Shannon and Adam came for dinner. Such fun to visit with them and the girls and she spoiled S and I with beautiful bouquets of flowers. Hana got early birthday gifts.

How to Make Google Love Your Webpage

Suzanne and James gave their first workshop today. They work really well together and received a loud ovation at the end. I was to the 'go to gal' and enjoyed it as well. Our reward for a job well done? Lunch at Smitty's Oyster Bar overlooking the marina where they were prepared right in front of us. Num Num.

Fun with Granchildren and friends

Down to the rope swing at the beach today. That is always fun. I love being in the sun and smelling the salt in the air.

Ladies Luncheon for Afganistan Women Council

I read an article in an old Chatelaine magazine about the women in Afganistan getting micro loans to start their own business to enable them to provide to their families. The average loan is $200 and a schedule of interest and repayment is worked out over 3 years. Over 99% are repaid in full. The article told what an organization named Warchild does for them. This led me to the Afganistan Women Council which has many programs. Over 90% of the money donated to Warchild goes to the recipients and over 96% from AWCouncil. You can see their stuff at www.warchild.ca and Afganistanwomencouncil. What really struck me is that the Afgan women are not allowed to leave their house without being escorted by a male relative and many widows no longer have this and will starve or suffer violence while out on the street. We had a lunch today and donated to this work. I had very generous help from Vicki, Midge, Jackie and the women that attended. We really enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and raised $160.00 to help them.

Golf Again

I've played golf with Rita for the 2nd time this year. I had to give it up in 2009 when I had arthritis in my hands and couldn't hold the club. Doing OK now and just loving the fresh air, good company, beautiful surroundings, oh and the golf game? Couldn't really care, just love the sunshine and outdoors. We've played at Meridian where the back 9 is now the front, where you start. Ron and I have had many a laugh there with Chuck Hildebrand and company. It's an old hazelnut farm and here's the original well dated 1912. Makes me think of ours in Haney at the greenhouses.

Time for Goodbye

Suzanne, Hana, Marg and I went to Ainsworth Hotsprings yesterday and enjoyed the warm pool with all the pretty flowers overlooking Kootney Lake. We had fun going through the cave.
We enjoyed another pancake breakfast and then kissed our goodbyes. We had such a good time. Peter and I stopped in Greenwood for a walk past the Catholic Church and saw Internment Building #3 where Japanese were housed during WW2.