Fat Feet Live Here

 

My feet are constantly swollen. Today is my fourth day of this; perhaps it is the heat. I can’t fit into my shoes or my flipflops. I wear sandals that have expandable straps. It’s not painful, but it is uncomfortable in the afternoons when they are at their most swollen. I’ll be resting on my zero-gravity chair today because it elevates my feet, and that is what Google tells me to do.

Yesterday in Nanoose was as wonderful as was Tuesday. It was Dianne’s birthday yesterday, so I took a cake that was very well received. I love Di’s daughter Ash and her man, Alex. They are the most charming young people, and I truly enjoy being in their company.

I arrived there just before 10:30, having done some shopping in Nanaimo. We spent all day just sitting and chatting on the enormous deck that surrounds the cabin on the water side, and we had a lovely simple lunch and then snacked all afternoon.

Her Highness and I left just before 3:30. When we got to the terminal there was a full lot and a line up outside the ticket booth that stretched quite far back, but I was about 20 cars back from the booth. What was great, was that a ferry arrived just as I did, and it loaded up, departed and another ferry arrived barely 10 minutes later. We were home by 5:15.

All the plants survived my absence. I had watered sufficiently, and I was chuffed. We came inside, I fed the pets, made myself a simple dinner and got on the chaise with a thick cushion under my legs Oh, that felt good. And so did getting into bed early and having a wonderful deep and long sleep.

It’s a glorious day. I am not going into the market. I’ve had my fill of Kenny’s food for now. I shall water everything and do some tidying of the yard today, and tonight my feet will be high!

Some crafters blow my mind:

Back to Nanoose Bay

Nanoose was a blast! I loved every second of my visit with Dianne, Jane and Ashlee, but it was a day of relentless stress until I got there. I was terribly nervous on the highway, just as I was when I first moved here, but everything I planned to do turned out just fine.

I was terribly nervous about finding lunch materials for all of us, but Quality Foods had some fabulous quiches and salad mixings that were ideal. Everyone really enjoyed the food at lunch!

All we did was sit around and laugh, talk, eat and drink. It was just the most wonderful time. Worried about long delays with the ferry at the end of Canada Day, I left at 3:30. But I needn’t have worried. When I got to the terminal, there was not only no line up, but the ferry was just arriving, so I went through the ticket booth to pay, lined up and within just a couple of minutes we were on the boat.

When I got home, I was blissful, and I thought I would not return because I was so incredibly burned out by the whole day. But my enthusiasm to return quickly returned on Wednesday as I watered my plants and felt recharged by a nice slow and easy day at home. There is definitely no place like home!

On Thursday, I just chilled all morning, right through until lunch time, and after lunch I got busy watering—watering thoroughly so that I would not fret today on my return to Nanoose Bay and Dianne. Sadly, in the afternoon, Sheba chewed a pad off her foot, so we raced to the vet and she’s back on a high dose of prednisone for a couple of weeks. Damn. But at least I know what to do.

So, off I go, back to Nanoose on a spectacular Summer day.

Summer in Pinecone Park.

Every day I harvest raspberries. This is two days worth. I had 
no idea how fecund raspberry canes were.

I love these grand red and deep blue/purple fuchsias.

This is the entire fuchsia bush. It is just coming 
into bloom. It has tripled in size from last year.

These are teeny weeny little fuchsia blossoms.

This is the plant of the tiny blossoms. It is a really
beautiful plant that is a new variety to me.

The climbing roses are out on the trellis.

An unusual and brilliant hydrangea.

Another hydrangea.

Another hydrangea.

A gathering of self-seeded campions.

This is the former wasteland. I just started planting things in
the open space and the back of the yard and now I am quite
fond of this former ween and vine jungle.

This is one of seven apples on a little tree in the former wasteland.

This is the tiny apple tree with seven apples.

One of the beds under several trees is made
more appealing by the blooming of the ocean
spray bush that stands tall in the background.
Ocean spray is a local and abundant native bush.

Another hydrangea that's about to bloom.

This is Daphne. Smelling Daphne is the nicest thing on earth 
that you can do for your nose.

The blue berries of Oregon grape, a native plant that I have in
some of the beds.

I weeded the Spanish moss lining the path and
it's looking good now.

The massive ocean spray bushes growing on both sides of the
fence between my place and Colleen's provides a beautiful 
backdrop to a view of the backyard.

I love these blue geraniums.

The abundant blueberries will soon be ready to harvest.

Yum!

One of two large tomato plants I have.

This is a tomato bush. It grows laterally.

This is what the tomato bush grows. Pretty eh?!

Again, the ocean spray makes the garden look
grand. The blue geraniums are a favourite.

The Virginia creeper is really taking off. This is its third year.

I love these gorgeous little beauties that grow in
the cracks of the courtyard.

Nanoose Bay Day

Monday morning, we walked with our friends and their dogs, and then we went into the village to fetch my puffers. They only had one ready and were out of stock on the other, so I had to go back at 4:00 to get the other one, and then we beetled it to Stacy’s for a walk with her dogs and dinner with her sister and brother-in-law.

When we came home from the village, I had to water everything. I began in the backyard where I had thoroughly soaked everything on Sunday. Everything was bone dry. I decided to refresh parts of the garden that are vulnerable to rapid depletion of the water due to treed later in the day, otherwise tomorrow would be catastrophic for my garden. I really need to be here every day when it is this hot and sunny, and there’s naught but sunshine in the forecast. 

Just before 4:00, I returned to the pharmacy and got my second inhaler. Thank God for that! And then Her Highness and I went to Stacy’s. She and her dogger, Otis, and the dog she’s babysitting, Viggo, and Sheba and I went to Drumbeg to walk and then we went back to her place for dinner. Steve, her brother-in-law came as well, but Kris, his wife, had a dinner date with a bunch of local women.

We had a great night eating outdoors. There were no flies or mosquitoes, and it was a brilliantly beautiful night. We had a blast together, and the best part was that we did not stay late. I was home by 9:00 and went directly to bed. I was beat.

Today, I’m off to Nanoose to see Dianne today. I’m kind of looking forward to the adventure, but I must take lunch for four and I have no idea what to do or where to go. I hope I’ll find something to take at Thrifty Foods on the big island. 

I was up at 5:00 and out watering the most vulnerable plants. It’s getting hotter every day, and the trees soak up every bit of water. However, I think I’ve done a good job and I’ll be able to enjoy my day without worrying. I haven’t even left yet, and already I’m looking forward to coming home and having five days with no appointments or obligations. Next week is busy again, so the coming five days are very welcome.