The Joy of Being Home

Well, I do love my evenings watching movies. I bought a fifty-five-inch smart television yesterday on Amazon. It doesn’t arrive until the end of the month, but I’m already excited about not having to have four remotes to view stuff on my current television set. I’m going to ask Pete to come over when I get it to be here when I set it up because I find technology so incredibly frightening.

It was overcast yesterday morning. I had a soak before going for a forest walk with Regina, and then I came home to water. It felt excellent to get back into my routines ensuring my plant buddies all thrive during this drought. Every day, I eat a few Italian plums off the tree. Oh, the deliciousness!  

I did most of the watering and then came in to feed the pets, and then I took myself to The Surf for lunch. I have never gone out for a meal alone before on Gabe, but I wanted tuna bites that I had with Beth and loved! I got a seat on the lawn, ordered and opened my book. Very quickly the server returned: No tuna bites. Damn! I had calamari instead and a salad, and then I came home to finish the watering.

I read for quite a while, then Her Highness and I went for our afternoon walk. I felt impossibly tired and could not wait to get home and onto the chaise. My bad left foot was killing me, and I was just plain beat. So, I fed the brood, made myself a big salad and got onto the chaise. However, I was cold, so after I ate the salad, I gave myself another treat: a small fire to warm the cold house up a little.

Yesterday was sunny after 9:00, and then the clouds rolled in at 16:00, and I was hoping it meant today might be cloudy, but no. It’s bright and clear this morning; there’s not even any smoke in the air. The nights are getting cooler and the highs remain in the low twenties. Fall feels present.

Today I shall spot water, and I’ll be chillin’ during the remainder of the day because tomorrow, another trip to the big island for a bone density test in Chemainus. 

A Wedding in the Backyard

Saturday morning, up at four and racing around the house to get all the things done. I wanted to do before leaving for Vancouver. In the darkest dark of night that we get on the island, I was out watering all the plants that are the thirstiest in my garden.

At 5:30, we pulled out of the driveway, and I stopped at a trail on the route to the ferry terminal to walk her highness. It was a short walk, but she did what she was supposed to do, and I felt that we’d be OK on the ferry. I was surprised at how many people were waiting for the 6:20 ferry, but I was close to the front of the line.

In the early morning, with mist on the water and total calm. It felt like fall. It was beautiful to be out and about in the silence of the very early morning. There wasn’t a single wave on the surface of the sea, except that of our wake. We were on time and so I had no anxiety as I disembarked and headed for the second ferry terminal where we catch the ferry from departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver.

I was early off the boat. The exit ramp leads directly to the upper levels Highway, and that highway takes me directly to the Hastings and Renfrew area. I’ve been gone from the city now for 10 years, so I was shocked by the many changes along the route, but the worst change was when I arrived at Hastings Street, there is no longer a left turn lane from the highway, letting you turn onto Hastings. I took the next exit, Renfrew, and right there was a big, beautiful park, so I stopped and took Sheba for a long walk. And then I got in the car, turned on my GPS and headed for Diane’s.

It successfully took me to Hastings Street, but Hastings Street was blocked off for street work. Thank God for GPS, because when I failed to make the turn onto Hastings, it just told me to carry on and took me to an alternate route. I arrived at Diane’s to find her and her cousin, Beverly, who’d come to stay with me last Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful reunion. 

We all got busy with final preparations: putting cones on the street to reserve a disembarking area, setting up chairs for the ceremony, setting up tables and putting tablecloths and vases of flowers on them, and then we were done. Dianne ordered a huge batch of sushi to be delivered, and when it arrived, we all stopped for lunch. Then we workers got changed as wedding guests started to arrive and suddenly the wedding was underway.

I remained inside the house. It was air-conditioned, but when it was time to go outside for this ceremony, I stepped onto the porch and saw so many people, most of whom I didn’t know, and I went into a seizure that lasted a fair while. Jane noticed I was in trouble and came to fetch me. We sat together with Beverly as the wedding got underway.

The wedding was beautifully informal and very, very moving. Ash looked absolutely gorgeous, and the ceremony was so personable and easy with us surrounding the marrying couple. Alex looked stunning too. He had a bespoke silk/linen suit that was exquisitely tailored; on his tall, thin form, he looked magnificent.

When the ceremony was over, we all broke into groups to chat and to eat delicious hors d’oeuvres. Then, as things were winding down, Ashlee and Alex made some thank you speeches. When Ashlee was making hers, she began by welcoming the people who had come the longest distance, and then she moved onto talking about we ‘elders’ the longtime friends of her mother, whom she thinks of his aunts and uncles. She was looking around the crowd as she was talking about us, and when she started talking about me, she looked around to find me in there I was staring at her from behind a tree, and when she saw me, she burst into tears and so did I.

I felt so loved in that moment. Tears for me tumbled down her cheek, so I got the greatest gift of the whole wedding. We have a very wonderful relationship, Ashley and I. I couldn’t be more grateful. Alex‘s mother, Pam, an elderly relative of Diane’s who come from Langley, Carol, and a couple of other people all searched me out. Each one of them said that they were keen to meet me because they’d heard so many things about me from Ash. I have rarely felt so good about myself as I did yesterday. All those people made me feel make a good and worthy person. That’s not something I feel very often. (Writing that sentence made me cry.)

Ashlee‘s wedding day was also her birthday, so as the wedding wound down Dianne and I came inside and Beverly went to bed, and Ash and Alex and their friends sat in the garden chatting and laughing. They were still there when I fell asleep at around 10 o’clock. Dianne and I watched a bit of TV and talked about the day. It was nice to wind down before going to bed.  

Her Highness and I were up at five on Sunday morning and we immediately went for a long walk in the nearby park. It was beautiful because the park is high up on a hill and the view across Burrard Inlet provided a stunning view of the North Shore mountains and valleys. Plus, we were alone in a big gorgeous park, the air was sweet and fresh, and all was quiet.

We came back to the house to quietly pack all my stuff back into the van. I wanted to leave early and be amongst the first in line at the ferry terminal so that my car would be on an upper deck, which means that you can go into the ferry to get food and come back to the car. Only on the upper deck can you get in and out of your car. The lower decks are inaccessible once the ferry has left the port.

Everything went to plan. We were on the upper deck and the trip to the big island passed quickly as I read my book. We were the first car off the ferry and I raced to the Gabriola ferry where I had only a thirty-minute wait for the ferry. We were home at 14:00. We stopped and walked along the way, and so once home, we were home for the night.

The pleasure of being home was so intense, it almost hurt. Sitting on the chaise with my dinner is the best feeling in the world. Fred and Ethel were by my side all night. They’d missed me.

A Good Friday

 The sunshine coming through the trees was weak early yesterday morning. I reckon it’s smoke forming the high light cloud ceiling. I went out early to get started on watering every plant thoroughly. They will not be watered thoroughly again until Sunday/Monday. I spot watered in the afternoon, just to be sure all my floral friends survive my absence while I am in Vancouver. The smoke and weakened direct sunlight make it likely that all will go well. 

Then Her Highness and I went to the Windecker trail to walk through the forest with a couple of friends. When we were done, we came back home so that I could resume watering and then feed everyone lunch.

After lunch, we went into the village for gas, to order a prescription refill and to get some food shopping done. Then it was back home for chores. I hadn’t vacuumed in a week, and normally I vacuum every second day. I cleaned and tidied so that when I come home on Sunday, the house is in order, and I can just do spot watering and then chill for the rest of the day.

Yesterday afternoon, the smoke seemed to dissipate. It got hot and humid in the afternoon and then, at 15:00 clouds rolled in. I was thrilled because if the hang around a while, tomorrow my plants may have a cool day and retain the water I gave them yesterday.

We did a short walk in the afternoon. Sheba hates heat. And then I had a soak before packing and doing a few more chores before hitting the chaise and watching a movie. I went to bed early because we’re catching the 6:20 ferry, and that means leaving home just before 6:00.

Not long after dinner I went outside to check on the status of wetness in the garden beds and I heard the unmistakable sound of an ice cream truck. It had come along my street about a month ago, and this time, I was not going to miss the chance to be ten years old again. I hurried back into the house to fetch my wallet, and as I walked onto our street, I saw the truck coming past Pete and Ali's place. 

Colleen and her tenant, Laura, were out there, and so was Jim, another neighbour, and Colleen bought us all an ice cream treat. I got an ice cream sandwich and it was delicious on such a warm Summer night. Oh, nostalgia! What a good feeling you are!

I’m looking forward to the wedding and seeing friends, but I’m also fearful of being part of such a big crowd. But I’ll get through this, I’ll enjoy myself and Sunday will be thrilling because I’ll be coming home and having a White Spot hamburger on the ferry as we cross the straight to Nanaimo.

No post tomorrow. I'll be in Vancouver and I don't take electronics. Back on Monday.

Another Great Day in Paradise

Thursday dawned slightly smoky, but there was golden sunshine all day and I could neither see nor smell the smoke. I did chores in the early morning and then Her Highness and I went for a walk on the Ricki Ave. trail. She sometimes balks at walking this trail, but she took to it with enthusiasm.

When we came home, I watered all the Hydrangeas, just to be safe, and then I wrapped Alex and Ashlee’s wedding present. I was very pleased at what I was able to do using materials left over from my crafting days. Then I fed everyone lunch. 

For the past two days, I’ve enjoyed making croque monsieurs for lunch with the béchamel left over from Beth’s visit. I’m very proud of my croques. I learned how to make them when I lived in Nice I grow and love them and I have so many). 

When I put my croque in the oven, I found the ham on the counter. I’d forgot to put the ham in. So, I made a second piece of toast, put béchamel on it and the ham on, top of that, and I put it all underneath the first toast with topping. I made a deluxe Croque monsieur (two-layered. I loved it.

In the afternoon, we went to Drumbeg to do the perimeter walk. The tide was out, there were a bunch of beautifully coloured kayaks on the beach, people were swimming, tourists were marvelling at the extreme current of the incoming tide where Gabriola comes very close to Valdez. Both islands are long, but Valdez is very long and thin. Together they form a wall that creates an incredible tidal flow between the two islands. I saw that yesterday.

Then we went to the cemetery to steal California poppies. They grow wild all over the cemetery which is fenced. So, I stole five of them and transplanted them to my edible garden for colour. Fingers crossed they survive.

Then we came home for dinner and to watch more episodes of Belgravia. I’d been enjoying it and then, just as happens in many law series, I get lost with all the references of names and things said by whom. But I’m sticking with it; it’s entertaining whimsy.

After watching one episode, I went outside and picked a couple of Italian plums from the tree in the front yard, and I ate ‘em as I walked to the edible garden to eat some tomatoes. Soon, the apples will be ready. I have a bagful from Pete from their garden. They get a large harvest; the have several trees.

The smoke casts and eerie light through the day. It feels as though the sun is setting all day. On the plus side, it’s more comfortable in the sun doing chores.  I’m a born optimist. Environment Canada says it’s going to be cloudy here on Tuesday and Wednesday. To me, that means less evaporation and, therefore, less watering.

Late yesterday afternoon, Linda and Al, and Linda's sister and her sister's husband happened by. I don't know Linda and Al, but I've been waving at them as they passed on the street for years. They stopped to chat and I invited them to see the Butterbur because Linda's sister is seriously knowledgeable about plants. She lives in Alberta, though, where gardening is limited. 

They were blown away by my garden and the Butterbur. We talked together for about forty minutes and I loved every second of our conversation. As they left, I thanked them for stopping and told them that serendipitous passing conversations with neighbours is one of the things I love best about life here.

This morning I shall water and then, late this afternoon, I shall water some things again so that they survive until I am back on Sunday. Pete is watering the strawberries and hydrangeas for me on Saturday afternoon while I’m at the wedding. We’ll also walk with our friends this morning.

Just part of one of my large Fuchsia plants growing in 
containers on my deck. It is abundantly covered in blooms.

This is another one. From the other side it is blazinig red, but this
sife shows the lovely whiie ground cover that covers the container.

My prettiest Fuchsia is a beautiful purple.

The fountain is very busy with thirsty birds.