Becoming attuned to the "r" word

  It always seems that when you are thinking about or doing something in your own life or family, others are doing the same thing.  Perhaps you are just that much more attuned in the same 'wavelength'.  As I think about retirement, one co-worker retired 2 weeks ago and another announced her retirement today for mid December.  This is from a very small office.  I think some changes in the upcoming benefit plan and retirement perks are 'persuading' people to leave earlier than originally planned.  Donald went last night to a " Last Trip" get together at the Legion, as another railroad worker made his last trip on the rails and retired. 
   There is yet to be an RV blog that we have found, where they noted on their last post that they made the worst decision of their life by changing to the RV lifestyle.  It is most encouraging to those of us who have yet to make the big leap.  The co-worker leaving in December noted today the old adage, 'life is too short...'.
   We were worried that perhaps the big house might not sell when we put it on the marketplace but we have been checking the paper for comparables and there is really nothing for sale to even make a comparison.  Another co worker's house sold within a couple of weeks, and she was happy with the price they obtained.  So, that is also an encouragement.

   More snow fell today - it was sunny and beautiful this morning and quite glistening.  Those ski runs look like they are just about ready, don't they? The hydro work project on the neighbourhood road is still carrying on and now they are pulling cable through their underground holes.  Not much excitement around the house, but there you have it.
  
 

winter morning

Yes, I spoke too soon the other day - this snow will probably stay.  It is truly lovely though with the fresh snow on the tree boughs and leftover red crabapples.  The west skies this morning are very dark as we are supposed to perhaps get more snow and there is some type of weather moving in, and I tried to take a picture of the skies over the mountain, but was unable to get the right darkness that my eyes see.  I am envious of some of the camera equipment that some of the rv bloggers are using, and perhaps that will be a retirement gift?? from Donald.  In the meantime, I will make do with my little Nikon Coolpix, which is more than adequate at the present time.

  Yesterday I was able to start making a card for a "you have finally finished your renovations" occasion. I will put up a picture of the card just before it is delivered.  Our friends have torn apart their kitchen, dining room and living room and are only days away from being done.  I have also been making Christmas Cards.

  Well, one bedroom is just about cleaned out - what is left can be boxed up for our youngest.  He was here for Sunday supper last night and went through some clothes and items.  Not much is fitting him, as he has lost about 70 pounds in the last year.  The clothes can go to our local goodwill store " New to You".  This store is operated by the hospital auxiliary with proceeds to purchasing hospital equipment and students pursuing medical/nursing careers.  The bedrooms cannot be completely finished and purged out till after the end of the month when we are host to 2 friends and professional jazz musicians from Vancouver Island who are here to teach a jazz workshop. That will be a fun weekend, as always!

Weather watching and Twinkly lights

We sure are enjoying green grass and Robins in Mid November.  Now that I have said that, for sure it will snow this upcoming week.  Donald is a real weather wizard - he keeps track of the upcoming weather and has a weather station at the big house here.  The weather station consists of a barometer, a wind thing up on the roof, a precipitation measure on the deck arbour and of course whatever he needs for temperature reading.  All this comes into the house, and there is a digital readout box on the den wall.  We also have a small one for Rv'ing, and everyone always asks " what is the little man saying for tomorrow?" It has a picture of a little guy - sometimes he wears shorts, sometimes pants, he can carry an umbrella, or have his beach chair showing.  He also tells the temperature.  I think you can get these things anywhere and they have kept us amused.  They are both surprisingly accurate! They probably won't tell you when big Arizona winds are coming though Al - those clouds are most likely a better indicator!  I read somewhere recently that Canadians are obsessed with weather matters.  I am not sure if it has something to do with our 4 distinct seasons of the year and those variations, or that we are such a large country that we can have summer weather in Victoria and a huge dump of snow in Ontario or even Calgary - all on the same day!  Check out  wheretheheckisandrewjay.blogspot.com  -  for some Calgary weather tales.

Today was a short work day for me and I was off at 1:30.  I decided to make a quiche for supper and that is now in the oven.  MMM. We receive a monthly Kraft magazine " Whats Cooking"and this quiche is in the newest issue. I am not generally a fan of Kraft products, but sometimes there are some good ideas. Donald cleaned up some more in the garage, hauled an old desk to the dump yesterday and today he is going through all the Christmas lights in preparation for placing the lights out in the crabapple tree.  We use lots of white mini lights and its looks quite lovely.  We also do the same down at the RV lot, with solar ones and those solar swirly glass balls that light at night in different colours.  Our neighbour in the lot behind us also has white mini lights on his cedar arbour and fencing.    The other neighbours behind us to the east have a fabulous fountain that is about 4 feet high, concrete looking with a ball and it lights different colours.  Our rv lots are up from the lake and in a forest area without street lights and it is really dark at night.  These twinkling lights in the neighbourhood with sitting around the campfire is kind of magical .... and makes it easier to walk home in the dark when happy hour is a little longer    :)

I have emailed a couple of manufacturers of custom Park Models and we'll see what they quote.

Ok - Donald just walked in the back door to inform me that it was now raining.  Weather guy!

Ribs and Football and Laundry

Movie Crew trailers at Oak bay marina in Victoria, BC - I wonder what they were filming?????

Its a quiet day here at the big house - laundry, NFL football and a big load of Donald's famous ribs for dinner.  Our youngest son and his friend, Doug, from Prince Rupert informed us they will be dropping by for Sunday dinner, and could Dad make those ribs? Donald cuts up the ribs, covers them with his secret rub recipe, then puts pieces in saran and tinfoil, and cooks them in the slow cooker for awhile.  Then he unwraps them, lets them cool, then BBQ's them with Cattle Boys BBQ sauce.  They are pretty good. The work project for me went again till 9 pm last night, so I am just doing some light housework today, as I am back at it at 8:30 am tomorrow.  My sister in law, Elizabeth, said it was time to retire with those hours - let me tell you, it sounds good to me.  I come home to read the blogs and that de-stresses me! We did go out yesterday to our RV storage area to block off our spot and put up a sign with our name on it reserving the area. We did the same for our RV friends also, as they are busy with a huge kitchen renovation, and we were going there anyway.  If I get up more energy, I will go and print up some of the wedding pictures to send off to family and friends.

Canisbay Cottage Bed and Breakfast

Great Blue Heron in our B&B Tree

We stayed at a lovely B and B in Victoria: Canisbay Cottage.  It was one block back from the ocean, and off our suite's balcony, we had a view of the ocean.  This lovely bird has been coming to the B and B for about four years, sitting in this same tree.  There were apparently quite a few blue heron's in the immediate area, many in Beacon Hill Park nearby.  A couple of years ago, a number of eagles moved in and ate the heron eggs or destroyed them and chased the herons away.  The owners think that this heron is one sad bird. The hosts of the B and B, Mr. and Mrs. Nicol, were fantastic and made us feel so welcome.  It was a very relaxing place to stay, and very much like home during a busy hectic time. Thanks Canisbay Cottage!  ( even though we did not have the time to take our RV all the way there, we did check out the RV park in Victoria near Esquimalt - didn't look too appealing ).