A year later. . .2/28/11

This time last year, we were getting ready to spend our first night in our "new" house, here in the Comox Valley.

The house is much the same as when we moved in, different paint in the bedrooms. A new closet in our room and less ivy in the yard. There is plenty for us to do in the home improvement/repair/maintenance area, but we are still SO glad to be here.

We have made some great friends and the kids are very involved in several activities. . . Highland dancing, Saint John Ambulance cadets, school and church activities and music lessons keep us all hopping. Adam is liking his job and loving his co-workers/supervisors. As a bonus, since moving to the Island, I am no longer in need of daily allergy medication.

Our house feels very much like our home, even after only a year. . . Here's hoping next year finds us just as content with Island life.

Feb 25, 2011

It has been a chilly few days here, but we haven't really gotten any snow to speak of lately. The sun and blue skies today were stunning.

Elizabeth spent the day at home with the flu. Poor ole' "Pukin' Pete" was throwing up all night last night and most of the day today. She is not quite so pasty looking now, and I think she will be over it by tomorrow.

Dax has begun his Medical First Responder course this evening. He will spend the next two week-ends immersed in first aid study.

Last sunday I engaged in a little unintentional remodeling of our friend's house with the Suburban when I went to pick them up for church. I managed to send a good portion of a concrete post through the back window of or car. Fortunately, no one was hurt (other than my pride). The 'Burb has spent the week in the shop and we are driving a new Dodge Caravan until Monday. We are really enjoying the satellite radio, but it will be good to have our own vehicle back.

I have stitched a couple of purses together this week, and continue to be obsessed with calorie intake vs. exercises performed, but have basically been laying low and keeping warm. I am using a website called myfitnesspal.com and it seems to be making more aware of my bad (and good) dietary/exercise habits. I am averaging 1lb per week wt loss so far. . .only about 50 more to go. . .

A day in the life. . .Feb 19, 2011

Mr (or Mrs.) Eagle watches me in the afternoon breeze near Kye Bay. . .

Courtenay as seen from Back road. The swans are down there in the flats.

Aurora gets a snootfull of snow and fresh air out the window in the morning.

Kye Bay with the morning snow lingering on the shoreline in the afternoon.

My swan friends share their puddles with a few mallard sas they paddle the afternoon away. The mallard ducks are the little brown things in the lower right corner; I never realized just how BIG swans are.

The kids were convinced they were going to be sent home for a "snow day" yesterday. They were really disappointed to have to spend the WHOLE day at school. I was feeling lazy, so I picked up a friend and we drove around looking at beautiful area in which we live. The sun is still out today and much of the snow has disappeared already.

"Fowl" weather ?

It has been hard not to make cracks about the foul weather this week and how "Ducky" it has been. I tried to get a picture of some ducks swimming in a puddle at the high school, then I thought I would catch the swans in their puddles, but it never really happened for one reason or another. This one I took awhile ago. We have had periods of very wet punctuated by periods of damp, then soggy and finally, now we have had snowy to add to the mix. Believe it or not, the sun has even peeked out here and there too.

I finally got the call to return back to work part-time at Walmart. I should be on the schedule at the beginning of March, but may be able to pick up a shift or two before that. It will be good to have the paycheck (and the discount card) again.

Feb 9, 2011

I went with Ron for a while yesterday and while he serviced vending machines, I played with my camera. . .

Feb 7, 2011

Really nothing too exciting going on at the moment. . .I started this grass for the cats a week-or-so ago. Apparently, I will be hard pressed to keep enough of it going for Patchy.

Friday night we drove Dax, Kaili and their friend, Milena to a dance in Nanaimo. There weren't really very many kids there (maybe 30), but they had a good time. The next morning Elizabeth joined them in a trip back to Nanaimo for a stake youth gathering. Everyone was a bit snoozy yesterday.

After church we went to the Kramer's house for dinner. Bailey did her "famous" french bread, Madison did corn bread and Robin made chili and a potato soup. Another couple was there too and they brought a coleslaw. Our contribution was the ice cream and an apple/blackberry puff pastry thing for dessert. Everything was really good.

Today has been blustery, but clear. The kids had the day off school for a "Professional Development" day. The girls helped me with a few chores around the house and yard while Ron and Dax went to Campbell River on the vending machine route. The guy Ron helps out is in Mexico for the next couple of weeks, so Ron will be working most everyday covering his routes. One of Kaili's girlfriends is over here now and they are keeping the blu-ray player busy.

Groundhog Day, 2011

This week has been fairly dry and cool, so Ron and I managed to get the plum and apple trees pruned. They don't appear to have had a haircut in quite some time and I am hoping I didn't butcher them too badly.

Last night we finished picking up all the supplies to make the vest for Kaili's Highland Dance costume. I had to order the buttons, braided trim and pattern online. Unfortunately, the kilt that we thought we were getting for her turned out to be too small. Now we are once again, on the hunt good used kilt (and socks) that will fit her! It would be a bonus if we can find one to match the fabric I have all ready bought for her vest. If we can't, I'll just have to pick up more velvet. . .maybe black this time?

I managed to finish sewing the blouse for Kaili's dance costume today, then Ron and I watched Ground Hog Day on Netflix. We are supposed to get back into the wet stuff again for the week end. The kids seem to be settling into their new classes nicely and are busy, busy, busy.