All posts by Sherry

Missing … but with a good excuse

Sunday, September 24, 2023

I’ve not posted for a few days but I have a really good excuse. My daughters surprised me with a visit for my birthday. I could not believe what I was seeing when I opened the door and saw them standing on the doorstep. Pat, of course, knew for months that they were planning this visit and I’m surprised there were no hints from anyone. The closest it came was when I talked to Christy last Sunday she told me my present would be arriving on Tuesday. Best present ever!

We managed a lot in the few days they were here. Christy brought all the ingredients, pots and pans that she needed to make me a Turtle Cake. I had a piece quite some time ago when I was at Christy’s (she always made one for the start and end of The Walking Dead season) and the last time I had a whole cake was the day I retired and drove to Powell River. Do I dare say that my cake is already gone and that the last pieces were eaten right out of the pan (Christy told me it tastes best that way)!

We had lots of walks. Of course we did the sea walk and Pat even found one that we hadn’t done before. It was a short one on the edge of Cranberry Lake; there was a lot of evidence of at least one bear around but we didn’t see any.

One morning we pulled out all my bins of quilt sandwiches and tops for a Show and Tell (and maybe a pick-the-one-you-want) session. It was a huge eye-opener for me to see how much work I have to do on all of those projects. When I talked to Stacia and Deloise they suggested I leave them all out so they can see them when they come.

Elizabeth, Pat and I took a walk one morning to see a yard that had lots of dahlias growing along their fence. The owner was outside and he told us all about how he plants them and keeps them over the winter. He mentioned his whole back yard was planted in dahlias. Elizabeth and I were hoping he would invite us back to see them but Pat wasn’t shy and asked if he would show them to us. It was just like the dahlia farm we used to go to in Mission, except on a smaller scale. Apparently he sells bouquets of them, as well as the tubers. Pat took photos of the ones he liked and he’ll go back later in the fall and buy some tubers.

On Friday we were trying to decide on how to get the best look at the sea lions; we can hear them bark from the house. We drove down a logging road and saw (and heard) a few but we were more or less told that we shouldn’t be there so we found another spot. The viewing wasn’t very good though and all we saw were seals. The winter is the best time for viewing them so everyone will have to come back.

The house was so quiet yesterday that I had no inclination to write a post. Christy and Kathryn did the laundry and cleaned the house so it will be ready for our next company (arriving a week Monday). I’m busy trying to sort out my sewing room/office. I’m more than half way around it and I’ve even managed to cut fabric for a new cross stitch and for the project I’ll be working on with Stacia and Deloise on Friday.

I’ll spend some time this afternoon on my Pixie Lane cross stitch. We’re expecting a big storm tonight but it is sunny and only a bit breezy right now. I think I’ll head up to Staples and get myself a new inkjet printer (thank you Elizabeth).

Divesting

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

I mentioned to Pat that I had been clearing one thing a day from the closet – either putting something away in its proper place (mostly hanging up clothes) or setting something aside for sale or for the thrift shops. Pat got into the whole idea right away and did a huge purge of his clothes.

I walked to the Guild bee today but not to sew. I had a few things that I needed to drop off and I needed some photos for the blog. We made a grocery list and I said I could pick them up when I came home. When it started to rain I figured the walk was out so I did a bit of accounting until it was time to head out.

It had stopped raining by that time so I decided to go ahead with my walk. It was nice for the walk there but I got rained on walking home. When I got back I suggested to Pat that we take the bags up to the thrift shop and pick up the groceries after. We had all that done before coming home for lunch.

I haven’t been very productive for the rest of the day. I have lots that I could be doing but I think I’ll do some shredding while I watch my African safari. After all, I have to rest up for tomorrow.

Lord John and the Private Matter

Author: Diana Gabaldon

I picked this book off the shelf at the Lodge when we were in Vancouver in May. Although I like the Lord John character in the Outlander books I wasn’t really keen on starting a new series. According to the author, this book was meant to be a short story but her publishers said it was long enough to be a book.

I didn’t find the book very interesting. If I hadn’t picked up the second book at the thrift store recently I wouldn’t be going any further into the series.

Goodreads Rating: * *

Mystery Solved

Monday, September 18, 2023

I know who brought me the flowers. It was the President of the Cranberry Hall board as a thank you for the work I have been doing. I was happy that we got an all-clear message from the accountant today. When Annabelle came by to pick up the files I was working on I asked and she said it was her. I couldn’t figure out why I hadn’t heard her drop them off because she said she knocked several times. I think it must have been when I was out working in the front yard and she was at the back door.

I haven’t had a particularly busy day today. I got a couple of cards ready for the mail tomorrow and did a bit of cleaning. I also did a bit (a very little bit) of tidying in my sewing area. I’ve set aside fabric for the next sewing day I have with Stacia and Deloise. By “setting aside” I mean I’m using fabric that was on my cutting board already and I just didn’t bother putting it away.

I will continue with a few more tasks in my sewing room. The house is cold today and I’ve already put a sweater on. There’s no way around it – I’m going to have to go and put my hands in hot dishwater in order to warm up.