Saturday, November 7, 2015

We got home last night from a fantastic week in Victoria. We arrived in pouring rain and I was afraid my walk-about plans would be down the drain but the weather for the week was just fine.

Sunday we found a new favourite Italian restaurant – Cafe Brio. It is a family-owned business and all the wait staff and owners seemed to genuinely enjoy their work. I loved that it had half-orders of everything (I chose Parsnip Soup and Butternut Squash Agnolotti) except for dessert (Panna Cotta).

On Monday I walked to the Belfry Theatre to pick up tickets for a performance we planned to attend. It was a 30 minute walk each way so I got my 10,000 steps in without any problem. I stopped at the quilt shop on the way home (because it was on the way). I was very restrained in my purchases; I bought a few notions but nothing really jumped out at me saying “Buy Me, Buy Me”!

Tuesday was to be my shopping day. I started out at The Bay Centre (the large mall in the centre of downtown) but I didn’t last long. The crowds (there was a sale on) and the noise bothered me – I’m more used to our quiet shopping experience at home – so I moved on to some of the smaller shops. I stopped at Munro’s Books and could have spent a fortune; I came out with just one book from their sale table. I stopped at the Button & Needlework Boutique for some ribbon and a button (that I needed); while I was there though I picked up a couple of balls of yarn for a scarf project for my craft sale. Rogers’ Chocolates is a “must stop” and my last stop was in Chinatown for some BBQ Pork Buns and Coconut Cocktail Buns – they were sold out of the coconut buns so I got some Jian dui instead.

On Wednesday I walked the Songhees Walkway, a favourite we discovered on one of our many Victoria Blossom Walks. It doesn’t hurt that Spinnakers Brewpub is about halfway along the trail, and I stopped in for lunch on my way back. Wednesday evening we met a friend of Pat’s for dinner. I had never met Marina, but she caught us up on all the NWT gossip and politics. Marina lives in Fort Smith but also has homes in Yellowknife and Victoria; she is in Victoria until the end of the year getting her second Masters degree.

Thursday was cloudy and a bit windy so it took some coaxing to get me out of my pyjamas. I met Pat for lunch and, since I was already out, I took a walk through Beacon Hill Park and along the Dallas Road Walkway. I was just about back at the hotel when my Fitbit announced that I had completed my 10,000 steps for the day. Thursday evening we took the bus to the theatre for a performance of Chelsea Hotel, featuring the songs of Leonard Cohen. Pat loved the performance and I enjoyed it but didn’t love it! We waited for a bus home almost as long as it took for the trip but it was a nice evening so we didn’t mind.

We had to check out of the hotel by eleven on Friday so I packed up my bags and checked them at the hotel desk before heading out. It was threatening rain so my plan was to attempt the mall again if only to get in my 10,000 steps. I wandered around all the floors of The Bay and then found a Northern Reflections store where everything was on sale; I stocked up on a few sweaters. After meeting Pat for lunch I took a long walk around the museum grounds, the Parliament buildings and wherever the streets took me. After my 10,000 steps were done I sat in the hotel lobby and worked on some needlepoint until it was time to go.

When I wasn’t out and about I was quite happy stitching in our lovely hotel room. I finished up a knitting project for my craft sale, I finished my miniature piece for the next meeting, I have all the hexies done for my next Guild library review, and I made good progress on a needlepoint project that may get finished for the sale.

I’m going to head out soon to a local craft fair – I’m not usually tempted by them but I’m looking for something in particular this year that I just may be able to find. I planned to walk but a storm is just winding down outside so I’ll have to do lots of walking up and down the aisles (you may have noticed I’m really motivated by my Fitbit). When I get home there is more prep to do for my Texada retreat and I really want to get at a sewing project I have planned for the craft sale.