Monday, December 17, 2018

I’ve had a busy but productive day. I spent most of the morning getting Pat’s accounting off to the accountant for his GST report. I had three months’ worth of accounting to get done because, until it is time for the December report, they never give back my files from his August year-end. Luckily Pat’s been spending lots of time on Texada (and spending less money) so it didn’t take me all day as I had anticipated.

We had an appointment with our financial managers at lunch time. Rene and Leslie have become friends and we always enjoy our appointments. Particularly if they have good news on our investments to share with us.

I intended to do some shopping after lunch – I made a list of baking I’d like to do and the list of ingredients I’ll need. But we are suffering through another storm today and I just didn’t feel like going out. I have a couple of books due at the library today but I think if I drop them off on my way to quilting tomorrow they won’t know that they weren’t there before midnight.

So I finished a birthday card after lunch – all the way through from quilting to attaching the binding. I wish I could be this far ahead all the time but with the birthday right after New Year’s and fewer business days at the Post Office I need to get it in the mail tomorrow.

I still have a pile of paperwork on my desk so I’ll tackle some more of it now. I’d like to get it low enough that I can see my desk calendar – the page hasn’t been turned since December 6th!

Sunday, December 16, 2018

This was a good day. We went out for breakfast before grocery shopping; we needed stuff for home, stuff for Texada and stuff for our Christmas dinner. We’ll need to go again before Christmas but we’ve picked up most of what we’ll need. At least I think we did. Pat knew there were some things he needed for the studio but he didn’t have a list and couldn’t remember much; we made a list at home but left it on the counter when we went out.

Pat and I went out again this afternoon to get the last gift of the season – just when I think I’m done I remember a birthday present that needs to be in the mail before Christmas! I’ll make my last trip to the Post Office on Tuesday before I go to the bee.

I’ve done a bit of Guild work today but it was just a continuation of what I was working on yesterday. The pile on my desktop isn’t any smaller but I took a bit of time this afternoon to do some stitching.

And for the rest of the afternoon and evening I’m going to do some knitting – nothing that needs to be done for anything or anyone, it will just be relaxing.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

My first “away” trip was to Texada for a long weekend. It was a busy one, but even when I’m busy over there I come home relaxed. Friday night we went out for dinner, Saturday I was at a quilter’s Open House (for her birthday), Saturday night Pat was playing at a fund raiser for the Syrian family, and Sunday we went to the United Church’s all-music service.

We got home late Sunday afternoon and by mid-morning on Monday I was on the bus to Christy’s. Travelling by bus makes for a long day; I had almost a two-hour wait on a ferry out of Langdale (Gibsons) and then it was a mad dash (on an Express bus) to get from Horseshoe Bay to the West Coast Express station. It all worked out and I had less than a five-minute wait for Christy before we got aboard the train.

It wasn’t the best time to visit because everyone was working and/or at school. I was there for Dylan’s 13th birthday so the timing couldn’t be changed. I was able to walk Taylor to school every day (usually in the pouring rain) and picked her up once after school. I cooked supper a couple of nights – Dylan and I were alone for supper on his birthday and that felt very special (I made him his favourite dinner). Rick’s family came for cake in the evening; George’s Mum was there so it wasn’t a quiet event.

Dylan loves Lego and he received two cars for his birthday. Even though both boxes say 16+, he had the first one done in just over three hours.

Taylor is getting ready for her first gymnastics competition. Some of the things she does with her little body is quite scary. Imagine giving yourself a head massage with your feet!

There were wind warnings up for Friday when I was leaving so I got to the ferry terminal early in case some sailings were cancelled. Both of the ferry routes I was taking were going through relatively sheltered waters and everything went smoothly. I even avoided rain most of the trip.

Today I’ve been busy catching up – lots of Cranberry Hall work, a bit of Guild work, and lots of my own e-mail messages. I had a short nap this afternoon – I’m fighting a cold. There is still work to be done tonight but I may not carry on much longer. I have a book due back at the library on Monday and I could probably get it done tonight if I worked at it.

Thursday, December 6, 2018

I put the last Christmas package in the mail today. When I left the post office I told the clerk that it wasn’t personal but I hoped I wouldn’t see her again until the New Year. But as I said that I realized that Kathryn has a birthday early in January so there will be at least one more trip before Christmas.

I stopped in at sewing this afternoon but I didn’t do any sewing. I had a visit and a cup of coffee but that was all I had time for. Since I spent all morning getting packages ready I didn’t have my reports done for the meeting tonight. I’m happy to say that they are done now, my Secret Pal gift has been wrapped, my contribution to the Christmas raffle basket is ready, and my block of the month is also ready to go.

At one point I thought I would take the ferry across to Texada tonight after the meeting but I’m just not ready. I still need to get my stuff together for that trip, as well as start packing for my trip to Vancouver next week. I hate to leave everything to the very last minute as it doesn’t allow time for at least one sleep where I wake up in the middle of the night remembering something I haven’t packed.

I’m off to get a start on that packing now – there is no hope though that I’m going to be able to do any cleaning in my studio rooms.