Tuesday, June 29, 2021

We always intended to come home from Texada today but we came on an earlier ferry than we originally planned. I think our theory that it would be cooler over there was wrong. Of course it is super hot in both places but, because we are back in the trees at the studio, there has been no breeze at all for the past few days of the heatwave. In Powell River we have a chance to get an ocean breeze through the house in the morning and evening and we have the cool basement to go to in the heat of the day.

For the first time since the pandemic and for the first time on the new ferry (although it is over a year old now) we sat outside for the sailing. We had some shade and a cool breeze and I felt like staying put and just crossing over and back, over and back all day long.

My upstairs studio is an oven and I’ve had my computer off most of the day. I haven’t unpacked my bin yet but I’m hopeful that if I get up here early enough tomorrow I can get something done before it becomes unbearable.

It is three weeks since I had my second Covid vaccination and I’m as safe as I’m ever going to be. I promised myself that the first thing I was going to do with my new-found freedom was to get a haircut. I was lucky that I was able to get an appointment for this afternoon.

I found a place that will accept my hair as a donation but it had to be ten inches long. The hairdresser measured a few times and thought she could get pretty close to ten inches and still have enough hair to work with. Although it is called Wigs for Kids they accept grey hair and I have more grey than ever.

Enough of this heat upstairs – I’m headed back to the basement. Pat has noticed there is a new season of two of our favourite shows – Bosch and Yellowstone – so we can sit down there for the rest of the week if necessary.

Saturday, June 26, 2021

I don’t know if it would be cooler in Powell River than it is here today. Inside the studio the temperature is 29 degrees and I know it is even hotter outside. In Powell River there is a chance of an ocean breeze at night but when it is this hot I’m not sure even a breeze in the evening will bring much relief. Yesterday morning I sat outside with my shawl wrapped around me and I had lunch on the deck just to warm up. I sat outside while I drank my coffee but I certainly didn’t need my shawl. At lunch we sat outside on the back deck because there was a bit of shade there. It wasn’t too aesthetic as we were sitting beside the stacked wood; it didn’t seem too hot but the studio felt cooler than outside when we came back in.

I planned to get out my sewing machine today but decided it was too warm to have the iron plugged in all day adding in even a small amount to the heat. So it was back to cross stitching my gift project. It went better today than it did yesterday; I think another couple of days will have it finished.

Pat just came in from a trip to the market. He said it was nice driving in the truck with the air conditioning on so we may go out for a drive after supper.

Friday, June 25, 2021

I’ve decided there is a magic hour at the studio on Texada. It’s early but definitely worth getting up for. I’m usually out on the deck by seven but the action doesn’t really start until eight. There are a few hummingbirds around but they don’t appear in numbers until it is a bit warmer.

By eight though they are fighting over the feeder. Somewhere between eight and eight-thirty we usually hear the loon; occasionally we will hear it a bit earlier and sometimes in the evening but within that half hour is the clearest call.

And for the past two days I’ve had deer coming past my window somewhere between eight-thirty and nine. Yesterday two came across from the right side and today I had a momma and her baby approaching from the left. Momma was so close I think I could have reached out the window and touched her.

It doesn’t happen every day but when it does it is pure magic.

Thursday, June 24, 2021

The loons are back – and no, that isn’t what our Texada neighbours are saying!

The last time we were here Pat heard a loon once but I missed the call. Yesterday morning while I was at my computer I heard a loon, which is very odd for Powell River. Last night Pat heard the loon again. This morning, just after I got up, I definitely heard the loon and we heard it again a couple of times while we sat on the deck having coffee.

It is wonderful sitting out on the deck in the quiet of the morning listening as the birds start waking up, the hummingbirds find the feeder and, if we are lucky, we hear the cry of the loons. And it gets better. I had barely sat down to do some cross stitching when two deer wandered past my window. They seemed to have no idea I was there but, of course, I was being very quiet. I didn’t have my camera out so tried taking a picture with my phone and it wasn’t very good. I got a lesson from Pat for next time, but I also will keep my camera handy.

I’ve been cross stitching all day. A cross stitch quilt block, my stitch-along and I’m finishing my day working on a gift.

The heat hasn’t arrived yet but there is a heat warning from tomorrow until Tuesday. The studio had stayed quite cool all day so I have my fingers crossed we’ll be able to keep it cool when the weather really heats up.