Happy Halloween

We had a great party at Joe and Loretta's Saturday. People wore amazing costumes.

Moe won the best costume for the men and Lesley won for the women. Well done.

St. Paul's Neighbourhood

We visited with Gesila today, meeting Gail and Chen at the elevator and Jack came in later bearing fresh fruit, yogurt, cookie and Perrier. A definite hit. She's still short of breath and having her angiogram tomorrow.

Parking was tight today, I guess all those working people are parked at home today. Mole Hill Housing complex fills the full block next to the hospital and is based on a Heritage theme. John Leslie's Lane Cottage was built in 1901 behind his large Queen Anne home in Yaletown, moved here and now privately owned. The complex provides parking spaces, room for the Modo shared cars and garden plots on the back lane, a very well thought out project.

There is a very old Anglican Church down the block and a lovely city block park around the corner. These things weren't there when we were in St. Paul's. It's a lovely area.

Back to see Gisela

I loved the pumpkin decorating contest at the mall where I picked up my new nose.





We had a very nice visit with Gisela today. Here she is with a friend.



We had a great time at pool last night and there were plenty of incredible decorations.

Here We Go Again

Lots of investigation for Gisela. I'd bought her a cookie from the coffee shop and here's Aaron and Ron with her. She says the pigeon is her late husband Walter walking by keeping an eye on her. Her room overlooks a roof top garden and I think it's the best view in the hospital.

Gisela is Here

Ron's sister Gisela from Kitimat was medivacced down from the Terrace Hospital today. She is now in St. Paul's Hospital with trouble from her Bicuspid Aortic Valve. At least she lasted 14 years longer than Ron. Bonus - Jack arrived with her grandson Aaron of Prince George. This is the first time in 11 years that Ron and I have seen him.

Moved back Home to the RV

Ron and I moved back to the RV today. It took me 22 trips to load the car. Then it was unload and reorganize the Motorhome.









We had Brenda and Peter over for a sparerib dinner last night and are going to miss them and our lovely townhouse with our resident squirrel. Ron's walking farther each day but still needs a while before we're going around the block. I get a kick out of some Kitilano residents - true free spirits. Free beer when you go to their yard sale and one spot on 4th and MacDonald where people put their cast offs and they are recycled right back into the community.
Here is a tiny house on a 17' lot, subdivided off a bigger one. Not allowed any more.

Fun with Rosemary

It is rare that my sister Rosemary and I have time together but we took time yesterday. We left Ron resting and headed to Granville Island so she could get some fabric paint. We found just the right stuff next to where we parked. The Maiwa Supply has everything for painting, wool and texture, beautiful goods and the colours were intoxicating.

We heard beautiful music and here's a fellow in his tuxedo playing music outside against the red and orange fall leaves.






Rosemary had never been to Dr. Sun Yat Sen's Garden so off we went. It is so calm, you'd never know you were in the middle of the city. The fall foliage makes is very different to when I saw it in Sept. and is beautiful.

Sibling Reunion

Rosemary and Alex are down from Nelson and we got together for dinner tonight. What a great time together. We are so lucky to have a great family and love each other's company.

Seeing Stanley Park

Ron and I used to drive around Stanley Park every time we came to Vancouver. Thank Stanley for his foresight on dedicating this huge park. There is a new carved arch in front of the totem poles. Here's the 9 o'clock gun. The little mermaid had a seagull perched on her head. The hollow tree is still there. The stone wall was part of a fort during WWII and this looks over 3rd beach toward West Vnacouver.

Our 29th Wedding Anniversary

Can you believe it??? Neither can we. Yesterday was the day we would have left to go South for the winter and always have an Anniversary Brunch on the road. We had our gourmet brunch at home and then drove around Stanley Park. Here we are at the 9 o'clock gun lookout with the Lion's Gate Bridge behind us where we did the same in 2008, must have been warmer.
We had a lovely day. Dave and Ken Austin came for a visit and Peter popped in as we caught up on all the family news and accomplishments. Then Peter and Brenda took us out to the Point Grey Golf Course for a beautiful buffet dinner which took us over 2 hours as we ate and remembered family stories.
We're just so glad to be still here for our next adventure.

Brock House

I've been cleaning some cupboards for Brenda and dropped bridge stuff at Brock House today, which is now a Seniors Center. It is a beautiful Tudor period structure. They have this sculpture of 2 kids walking along a log.

Next to it, is the Hastings Mill Store, one of the oldest buildings in Vancouver, relocated here looking out at the Pt. Grey Yacht Club and ocean.

Sophie's Cosmic Cafe

On our way back from the lab for Ron's INR test today (clotting time so you know how much Warfarin to take) we stopped at this cool cafe for lunch. The front door handles are a huge fork and knife. It has many old restaurant artifacts hung all over the walls. The railing on top of the booths is made from old Coke bottles and the placemats are duplicates of some child's drawing. Did I mention -we shared a Reuben with sauerkraut and it was delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner with Brenda and Peter next door. Just delicious and these neighbours are very pleasant company. Guess who is waitng for something to drop on the floor when Peter was carving.

Kitsilano Characters

Walking around the neighborhood today I happened upon the 2009 Hospital Lottery Home. The winner was from upcountry and took the cash. The home didn't sell in 2009 , was off the market for a year and now is back for sale. It had birds painted on the stairwell wall, very cool, but I forget to take a picture when I went back.

I think left over hippies bought here a long time ago and their decorating is just delightful. Looks like a lot of eccentrics around here.
Here is a 1959 Cadillac buried in the front garden 2 doors down.








Some of the landscaping around the block is wonderful. This home has the gate covered with honeysuckle and vines, and pumpkins marching up the front steps.



Here are the chairs on this front porch - made from ski tips on an aluminum frame painted bright red and blue. Very inventive and cheery. All this is in this 2 block area.