Thursday, November 7, 2019

I was off the ferry for about five minutes on Monday night before heading out to the ARC Community Centre to scout out their kitchen facilities. Our Tuesday show was being held here and I had never been in the building so I wanted to see what the kitchen was like as I’d be doing concession for the show. On the way home I stopped at the grocery store for some cold drinks to serve at the show. As my gas light came on while I was driving I stopped for gas too.

Tuesday morning was a flurry of activity getting the house ready for four house guests – Connie Kaldor, her husband and their two sons. I made up the bed in the spare room upstairs before I left for Saskatoon; Pat took care of the bed downstairs. We’ve never had anyone stay upstairs on our futon (thanks Elizabeth!) and, as you know, my sewing room often spreads across the hall into the other bedroom. I shoved everything that was scattered in that room back across the hall to my sewing room and then shut the sewing room door. All was done in time for our guests arrival on the noon ferry.

They were very easy guests. They went out for lunch, had naps, went to sound check and then went out for supper. I set up the kitchen while they napped and I was back at the facility by six o’clock. The show was amazing, and I didn’t even mind that we didn’t sell a lot at the concession. Note to self: don’t try to sell cold drinks when there is a cooler of cold water sitting right beside the serving window! It was after eleven before Pat and I finished clearing the hall; we had prepared cheese and meat trays, fruit trays, crackers and dip trays, and bought wine so when we got home we joined our guests at the table and chatted until after midnight.

Wednesday morning I was up at 4:30 so I could listen to Dave’s radio show. Even though I was still operating on Saskatchewan time it was hard to get up so early. I’m glad I did though as I really enjoyed listening to the show. Dave and Will had great rapport and I even got a couple of shout-outs from Will.

Our guests left on the early ferry and I spent the rest of the day changing beds and doing laundry. I attempted to make some progress packing for the Texada Retreat but I didn’t have much success as I was too tired to think and make any decisions. I had a Hall meeting after lunch but, thankfully, I don’t have to resume my full responsibilities for another week. I was in bed by seven last night and feel much better and more “normal” today.

But it was a busy day today. I finished packing up fabric and patterns for the Texada Retreat and, while I was doing that, I put away a few things from my trip and things I had dragged across the hall to accommodate the bedroom. Most of what I put away were things that were on top of other things I needed. At one point I had a pile of things to take to Gail’s (I didn’t sew today but I stopped in to see the group), a pile of things for the Guild meeting tonight, a pile of things that are ready for our sale table later this month, and a pile of things to take to Texada.

I think my sewing stuff is all packed with the exception of my tools. Over the past year I’ve moved my tools from one bag to another but today I’ve decided they need to go back into the shoulder bag I originally purchased for tools. I’ll get them packed up before I head out to the Guild meeting tonight.

Moreen and I will be on the first ferry out tomorrow morning and I’m staying on Texada until a week Saturday. I need the quiet of the Island.