Sunday, September 24, 2023
I’ve not posted for a few days but I have a really good excuse. My daughters surprised me with a visit for my birthday. I could not believe what I was seeing when I opened the door and saw them standing on the doorstep. Pat, of course, knew for months that they were planning this visit and I’m surprised there were no hints from anyone. The closest it came was when I talked to Christy last Sunday she told me my present would be arriving on Tuesday. Best present ever!
We managed a lot in the few days they were here. Christy brought all the ingredients, pots and pans that she needed to make me a Turtle Cake. I had a piece quite some time ago when I was at Christy’s (she always made one for the start and end of The Walking Dead season) and the last time I had a whole cake was the day I retired and drove to Powell River. Do I dare say that my cake is already gone and that the last pieces were eaten right out of the pan (Christy told me it tastes best that way)!
We had lots of walks. Of course we did the sea walk and Pat even found one that we hadn’t done before. It was a short one on the edge of Cranberry Lake; there was a lot of evidence of at least one bear around but we didn’t see any.
One morning we pulled out all my bins of quilt sandwiches and tops for a Show and Tell (and maybe a pick-the-one-you-want) session. It was a huge eye-opener for me to see how much work I have to do on all of those projects. When I talked to Stacia and Deloise they suggested I leave them all out so they can see them when they come.
Elizabeth, Pat and I took a walk one morning to see a yard that had lots of dahlias growing along their fence. The owner was outside and he told us all about how he plants them and keeps them over the winter. He mentioned his whole back yard was planted in dahlias. Elizabeth and I were hoping he would invite us back to see them but Pat wasn’t shy and asked if he would show them to us. It was just like the dahlia farm we used to go to in Mission, except on a smaller scale. Apparently he sells bouquets of them, as well as the tubers. Pat took photos of the ones he liked and he’ll go back later in the fall and buy some tubers.
On Friday we were trying to decide on how to get the best look at the sea lions; we can hear them bark from the house. We drove down a logging road and saw (and heard) a few but we were more or less told that we shouldn’t be there so we found another spot. The viewing wasn’t very good though and all we saw were seals. The winter is the best time for viewing them so everyone will have to come back.
The house was so quiet yesterday that I had no inclination to write a post. Christy and Kathryn did the laundry and cleaned the house so it will be ready for our next company (arriving a week Monday). I’m busy trying to sort out my sewing room/office. I’m more than half way around it and I’ve even managed to cut fabric for a new cross stitch and for the project I’ll be working on with Stacia and Deloise on Friday.
I’ll spend some time this afternoon on my Pixie Lane cross stitch. We’re expecting a big storm tonight but it is sunny and only a bit breezy right now. I think I’ll head up to Staples and get myself a new inkjet printer (thank you Elizabeth).