Ever think of all the things you've learned?

I saw this the other day, a beautiful job 👌🏻

Just saw a show where they were delivering furniture and as the two went up the stairs I thought of when I worked for Wynans furniture so many years ago. I think I was 14 when I started there, Art was a really good employer, and helped me learn to do many things in the store, and out delivery furniture. Was a really good first job, taught me how to work.

Well actually watching my Mom work so many hours in her seamstress shop, that's where I learned the work long hard hours. She put in so much time to get a living for our family, Mom, my sister Joy, and I. We were really fortunate to have Mom work hard for us, she didn't really want kid's, but Dad did, so she did what was expected I'm thinking now. 

When they split, and we moved to Port Alberni, she could have just stayed on the welfare, but she was a worker, and wasn't about to get used to that. Wasn't long after we got our own apartment that she started sewing for others, and after awhile she opened a shop under the travel business that her friend and husband had, Turner Brothers travel. 

Yes, I believe that's where I got my giver from, she worked late sometimes till 12 midnight, after coming home, cooking dinner, a snooze, then back at it, when it was wedding dress, and grad dress time. 

After Wynans furniture, I went to Somass sawmill, working weekends, for really good $$$ I thought, $75 a day for Saturday's, so $150 for two days work, and it really wasn't work, I was an oiler, so was a breeze to do. 

Then after a couple years, and giving up school, I didn't work hard at that, I just never saw the importance in school, felt like was just practice, not really doing anything valuable. I then went to work for mars contracting, was a short stint, 2 days, just enough to know I didn't want to die, and that's what I believed was going to happen if I stayed there setting chokers, was literally "Run or Die!" I kinda valued my life, so outta there I was. Next I got lucky to know a foreman at Sproat lake division, an M& B operation, got on as cleanup in the shop, was a really good job I thought, decent $$ and lots of opportunities in the camp. 

Looking back now, by this time I'd learned to drive, learned how to take apart a car, transmission, rebuild it, a motor or two, and rebuild them, brakes, so many things I'd learned, things I don't do anymore, unless I'm in a pinch, then all the lessons I've learned come back to me. 

Fishing, camping, girls, getting married raising children, buying a house 🏡 or four, or five, then maintaining it, geez, I'm not even half way though, and so many lessons, now taught in school. Not that I didn't learn anything there, but the stuff the education system wanted me to learn wasn't ony radar. 

Yes, so much we all learn in our lives, and here I am still learning. Fantastic isn't it. I'm finishing this while Polly is watching Star wars, #3 she says. I say how great it was to spend time with our grandchildren going to Victoria, staying overnight, and seeing the movie at Tilicum theater, with the huge concave screen. We, Polly and I really enjoyed that fin time with our grandkids. 

Well, I gotta get up, and Go out and finish the project I have been working on now, before I get into this show and stay in my seat.

Learning is something that I believe keeps us motivated, interested, excited about what the day brings. 

We have been planning another trip, to Grande Prairie, be nice to see all our family and friends there, and along the way. Nice to have so many to spend time with. We are fortunate. 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Weekend train training was Great!

Take em to the "Train Station" has a Yellowstone sound to it, but today going to the train station was really interesting, not threatening, just great learning for me and a couple others. 

When I joined the Western Vancouver Island Industrial heritage society I had no desire to become a train 🚂 🚃 🚃 🚃 operator, but after a few days at the train station, I got asked if I wanted to attend training, and yup! Of course I said I'd go, learning always has been interesting, and the last 3 days have tested my mental abilities, and yep I passed, got my rail Rules card. Now a little on the job training, and I can do a few different Jobs that the train needs people for. 

My desire is shop work, but conducting be another interesting position. Not sure where this will lead, but I'm always up for new and interesting. Just meeting the people I did in training was Great. Corey our instructor, Tim, Madock, Nolan, and Richard, our RR representative for the industrial heritage society. Getting to know them all just a little better was really good.

Moms day today, Sunday was a good day, got a few flowers for Catherine & Paulette, her Memere from Taylor our granddaughter was good, first thing in the morning. The girl's at Quality foods really came through, I'd paied for the flowers the night before, they had them ready for me first thing in the morning, even though I'd asked for 9am by mistake. 

My head is still full of thoughts of train lingo, not something I'm used to. Tomorrow planters again, as that's something I'm well versed in. 

Polly had a great day too, many visits with friends and family, and messages from granddaughters made her day. Was a really good day for both of us. 

Watching hockey 🏒 tonight, L

Last Canadian team doing really good tonight 👍🏻, Montreal doing great. 

Sleep will come easy tonight 🤗

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Hot early this spring, we are not used to.

Weather is something we talk about often here on the coast, as is so variable. Lately we have had the best warm weather, yet still talking about it. Now I hear more saying "Sure need some rain." Or "Going to be a bad summer." & "Not enough snow pack on the mountain's." Best is "Sure is hot out." 

I laugh, I'm sure many more I've heard, just not coming to me right now. Me I'm just really enjoying the warm weather, although I hide from the heat in the day, open the doors and windows in the evening, and early morning both doors, get the chill happening. I love the early morning. ❤️ Quiet, cool, and light out early now, that's really nice. 

Today Sunday again, poof, there goes another week. Planters been my focus lately, but I have this Murphy bed that we picked up during the winter, I want to install it in our spare bedroom, although I'm worried it will be just too big when folded out, be nice fo company to have a decent bed to sleep in. 

I have a couple planters to finish today, and a trip to a friend's place to give an address planter as a house warming gift. Then Polly wants to go to Canadian Tire, get a few more plants. Later a birthday dinner for our grandson Jesse, 18 already. WOW, yep times flying by. 

Polly and I get to enjoy the early morning sun as it shines in between the blinds creating many different colours and shapes as we watch. The quiet of early Sunday morning is our gift I believe, nice to peck on this phone and enjoy the peace and quiet. 

Coffee ☕ is good, I've been up awhile now, chatting with Penny, and now a few other's, a morning ritual I love. Worked on train 🚂 flatdeck yesterday, getting it ready for the July 1st weekend at Harbour Quay, be a big celebration I'm sure, many community groups involved. I'm looking forward to a summer here, seeing all that we sometimes miss with travel. 

Dinner last night our first time eating out on our deck, shish kabobs on the BBQ, was great. Looking forward to more of this.

Then cards after, rummy 500, Polly was happy to beat me best outta 3 games. I let her win LoL 🤣 

Our sun coming in the window changing fast as the sun comes up. 

      Polly's wooden man looking bright 

Almost 8 now, second ☕ coffee, energy is building. 😄 Soon I'll be going out, and Polly will be making her Cake. 

We both loving this not so mobile life ❤️ 

April 28th A Day of Mourning for lives of workers that have died due to workplace injuries or diseases.

I'm up early today, I took time before I got up to think of this day, April 28th. I read an article about it yesterday. The thought of this day has meant much to me as I worked in an industry that has had many deaths due to injury on the job. Some have injury that changes their lives forever, and don't die, life altering accidents. 

Always I think of how fortunate I've been to have made it out of logging and saw milling alive, with all my limbs attached, and able to walk. I'm fortunate to have be able to make it to retirement. As I age some of the accidents I've had, the effects have caused limitations, but I'm still able to walk and talk, and think. 

I know it's a day of mourning the death's of people who were working, but I think often of the amount that don't die, that are different because of a workplace injuries. I'm sure there's an account of them, but we don't see that advertised. 

Injury that changes your life, yet you still have to go on, that's a real challenge. Not discounting the death's, just thinking of how many people are still alive, yet injury effects them the rest of their lives. 

I tried to get that information, I googled how many injuries, but even pointedly asking for injuries in BC in 2025 I got this,

 "According to WorkSafeBC, there were 138 work-related deaths documented in British Columbia in 2025. This includes 79 deaths from occupational diseases (such as asbestos exposure) and 41 from traumatic injuries. While this is a decrease from 146 in 2024 and 181 in 2022, it marks 138 lives lost, say CP24."

I'm going to look a little bit more, might have to call WCB, now called WorkSafe BC and get the answer. 

I've had my experience with them, not my favorite place to deal with. Not going to repeat my experiences, just that I believe this company is not what it pretends to be. 

Today I'll stop at 11am, a moment of silence, and think. About all the times I remember listening to the calls on the radio for radio silence, ya know there's been an "accident" someone is injured. Then the talk after, about what people thought, who died. Sad days when a father isn't coming home, or a child has been injured. Ya see young men and women are someone's child too. 

So many people are effected when an accident happens, it doesn't just cripple the person, it cripples all he or she knew in some way. 

Life goes on. For the person that died it's final, for those they leave it's difficult, but final as well. Those that are injured and have to go on, that's something I'm not sure gets the attention it should, yet here we are. 

I sigh, big breath and sigh. We used to assemble at the epitaph in front of our Union Hall, I remember doing that many times. This year I'm looking on line for the assembly today, nothing posted, and our Union Hall is closed down now. I see flag's will be lowered at City Hall, but no gathering as far as I can see. 

         Momentos from a time passed

I'm thinking now I'll go down to the next best place, the Western Vancouver Island Industrial heritage society building, our old arena building. A group of volunteers meet every morning of the working week, and I'm sure some on the weekends too, have a coffee, and a talk, then go about their own job for the day. Meeting with them is closest to going to work as I get now, talkin about work mostly, people we remember, accidents we would like to forget. 

Yep, that's what I'm going to do today, coffee and a visit with friends I've made after work. 

If ya read this, take a minute at 11am, it's worth a thought. Or better yet, come to the industrial heritage building and sign up, we could always use another member. Next best thing to working. 

Sure do love our retired Life ❤️

Some mornings are different, today was.

     My shadow shows my standing hair 

I woke this morning and layed there a bit as usual, thinking. Then somewhere in the thinking I realized my back wasn't sore as usual, at least not as sore as usual. I felt pretty darn good, so up I got right after I thought of Christopher for some reason, I'm not sure what exactly I thought about, but I do remember thinking I miss him. 

Up I got, and went about the day ahead, was 5:25 good sleep I said to myself, the day was getting bright already, nice to see the light so early. Polly is up now, her first move is to check her cake she'd made yesterday for our brother in laws birthday dinner tonight. "Yep, it's solid" was her comment, it's a cheese cake, so had to be refrigerated to become exactly as she was expecting.

 I find out now asking Polly what it was that was solid? "The lemon 🍋 curd" I understand now, Polly is concerned about keeping it cool while we travel to Qualicum Bay, as that's where we'll be going today for dinner with her sister and brother in law. Ice under the cheese cake, that's the answer. Now the conversation goes to "cooler, what size will we need?" I say I chuckle now, wording always funny between us. I say "the small cooler or the bigger small cooler?" Polly laugh's, wording LoL 🤣 

I say "will it fit in the small cooler, or do we need the medium cooler?" Change my words. After a little size check, I realized it would fit in the medium cooler, if the cooler was laying on it side. Done, ready now. 

I like to be prepared, not leaving it to last minute, then rush, just feels better knowing when we get ready we have a plan that works. 

Getting back to my thoughts this morning now, I made coffee ☕, and as I was drinking my first, watching reels on YouTube, I saw one with Robert Duvall in it, always liked him, so I watched it. Was about his truck engine quit on the road as he was traveling. I still haven't finished it, but got to a part where he was asking the mechanic as he sat in his shop, who the picture of a young man was in graduation 🎓 clothes. Mechanic said was his son. 

Well that got me for some reason, I just cried a little, missing him, remembering Chris in his graduation gear. I think it's funny how we work, but not the ha ha funny, just in a moment, with a thought, our grief comes back, just poof, just like that. I blame it on my allergies now as I write, so Polly doesn't get concerned. Then it goes away just as quickly. 

7:45 now, I have a planter to finish sanding this morning, man will come at 10am to pickup. I'm finding this building is good for me, keeps my mind busy, and I really like working with wood, just feels good seeing what I create. 

Anyway here we are, another Sunday morning, I shake my head, man the week's are just flying by. Busy is good, enjoying the moment, getting messages from our granddaughter's mostly, my daughter, and friends regularly makes me happy. Connection feels good, keeping up on the lives of friends and family is important too me.

I walked with a friend Chris yesterday early, was a good walk, short, my knee still hurts, but hopefully get it replaced with a new one not too far away. On our way home, we met a mutual friend Don, who's walking with a friend, he introduced him, but that name just didn't stick in my head. Anyway Don was just talking to this guy about me, and how I'm going to put my name in for City council. I happy to hear he's going about spreading the word, but I had to say to him I've been thinking about it, and not sure right now, as after going to a couple meetings, I realize it's a huge amount of time I'm going to have to commit to it. I'm questioning whether I'll be up for that much time? 

I can see he's a little disappointed, but "I really want to make sure, so I'll continue to go to the meetings, and see if I do make the solid commitment" I tell him. Not something I'd take lightly, so I want to be sure it's something I'll be able to do.

8am now, Sunday, should I start sanding now? I'm thinking I'll wait just a little longer, Sunday morning. Polly just saying to me " I can't get over how fast the weekend goes, Sunday already, they just go by so fast" I smile 😊 my thoughts too. 

I guess I'm finished for this entry, looking forward to a walk on the beach today, always love the feeling of walking on the warm sand, and the feeling of the water, even if cold, then the smells of the ocean. Be a nice day I'm sure. Polly says Lyn has promised a beer 🍺 for us, and a nice dinner. What more can ya hope for on a sunny 😎 Sunday, dinner, friends, and a walk on the beach with Polly ❤️

Sure do Love our life ❤️ 

Are we the sum of our experiences?

       Polly's Flowers from her garden 

Are we the sum of our experiences? I'm wondered this morning, "We" I say loosely, as I'm only going by my experience. I know what we have experienced is what makes us, but is there more? Do we examine our thoughts and change? Or do we just take the person we have developed into at its face value?

I'm not sure, as looking back at the person I am, and remembering the person I was at a young age, if I've changed, or just developed from that to this? 

I go hm now, a Short hmmm. LoL, you know what I'm talking about, just thinking am I changed because I intended to, or did it just happen? I'm not sure, but I'm happy with the person I've become, always something I can improve on I know, still I'm content, and still discovering me. 

Today after the last 8 months in our new to us home 🏡, changes, planting, grass cutting for the first time in years. Polly is so content to, out planting flowers she bought yesterday, Gladiolas and Shell flowers. Going to be beautiful I'm sure. 

I planted the two blue berry 🫐 🫐 bushes I bought awhile ago last night, our purchases are like our life, random, not a real plan, just something we liked, so we bought them, and planted them. 

Kinda like our thoughts, we take what we like as we see things, or hear things, then decide what fits for us, and what doesn't. Choice is what's important here, we have a choice. Looking at what I read about many places in our world 🌎 I think we are extremely fortunate to have not only choice, but freedom mostly to do what we want, well alot of what we want. 

The further north ya go, I believe the freeer we are, in that rules loosen the further north ya are. Although I'm quite happy here, after traveling as much as we did, gave us a really good look at what here is like compared to other places in North America, as well as other countries.  

Shayla just called, our granddaughter, her husband is about to make some changes at there New to them yard. Got an excavator there, and going to change things, we had a short talk, as she's busy, but nice to communicate with her, even just a short conversation, get to know what's up. 

This morning had a short conversation on messenger with my sister in law, know what's up with her day, and she ours.

Talked with Penny this morning quite a bit, understand what she's been up to. 

A message on Snapchat from our granddaughter Taylor, drinks out she shows, we hoping that'll change, but she's young. A message from our oldest grandson, he won at the casino! Polly of course interested in that 🎰, is one of her interests. 

Feeling like all ducks in a row 🦆 🦆 🦆 today. 12:20, and still sitting here, pecking on this phone. 😊

Off to visit a friend today that's had a tough time lately. 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Excellent day today, Excellent 👌🏻

Photos were available, but I didn't take them, instead I listened better than usual,  I still thought about the photo ops I saw, but I didn't take any. Well at least I thought I didn't, but surprise I did take a couple early in the day. 

I started today with the thought of going to the industrial heritage society building to ask what happens when people apply to be members. I learned there is a group that meets in the coffee ☕ room at 8am, before they start doing things that need attention in and around the building.

 Asking what happens once a membership is complete, I was told the person could come in and get busy doing many things, batteries is one that was brought up, cleaning up, as many shelves have been emptied due the a push to lighten the load of things that were here that we're extra, not needed. So what's left needs to go back on shelves, and much needed to be cleaned up. 

Also a train car that's being rebuilt, that needs loads of love I'm hearing, I didn't look at it this time, but I will. Another thing I heard was about the topper off the Ukrainian Church here in town. 

After I left I went around back to check it out. I'm still thinking about what this could be used for? Whoever built it did a wonderful job 👍🏻.

After I took Penny to her Dr appointment, then as she was going to be awhile I went for a walk around the dyke, something I hadn't done for awhile. I parked at Blair Park and started off walking past others that were about to take a walk too. After I got going and was passed by a few, a woman (Richelle I found out was her name) rolled up with her little dog ahead and her son in the stroller. We ended up walking together, talking about her dog, and how she has to give it back to her parents, as she's going to Powell river to house sit. 

We talked about her future plans, going to Costa Rica to pet sit for someone, she and her "daughter" (I found out my presumption was wrong) are real travelers. Richelle told me of this site that costs little and hooks ya up with others that are looking for petsitters, for this you get a house to stay in while you look about the new area you now live in for awhile. I'm interested, I joined it later in the day, after she sent me the link. 

I'm always amazed at just how quickly connecting can happen. Was a nice walk and talk we had, after I thought I was back at Blair Park I turned off, then realized after I walked down a paved trail I had turned off a little early. So after a few minutes about turn and as I approach the dyke trail again I saw a pic for guitar 🎸, bent over and picked it up, 

WOW was my thought, Black Sabbath! 

As I straighten up walking towards me was Bob Emde, what a surprise. We said our hi's and yak took up really easy, I worked with Bob setting chokers many moons ago, a really good guy. We walked and talked all the way past Blair Park, up to the bridge where he would turn off to a trail to his home up the street. 

Then we said goodbye a couple times, always something else to continue talking. Then out of the blue another good friend, Brian Chipman tapped me on my shoulder, WOW that was a surprise, I introduced the two of them and said, almost as announcement ho surprised I was meeting two of the best (I'm not sure how I said it exactly) but top quality people! 

Both really good people, was great to have a conversation with them both. I thought a photo, but resisted, as would have changed the moment. We all could have yaked for longer, but Bob was headed home, and Brian was continuing his walk around the dyke, so I joined him, checking my phone if Penny had messaged, but no. So off we went, Brian and I never at a loss for words. After much yak, and connecting again, we met another couple on the dyke right where I stopped to pickup the pic before, Brian was surprised as it had been along time since he had seen this couple, was a nice meeting, but I had to go, Penny called. 

Off I went, picked up Penny, and brought her home, she was ok to just go home today, not hanging out today. 

Off I went home myself. 

Polly had been busy getting our dinner ready, and cleaning up, happy I came in telling her of my meeting people, she's always joking that I'm making friends, "Oh do tell" she'll say as if she sarcasticly surprised 😂. Now I get a message from our granddaughter in Grande Prairie Alberta, "Hi, are you busy?" 

Well that was a really good message, never to busy for a yak with you, so I called and we had a long yak. Polly was just about to go out to get a few things she needed for dinner, so I talked with Taylor for awhile inside, then showed Taylor our flowers in the garden.  Then Polly came home, as I was about to show Taylor the planters, and my shop, she hadn't seen it before. 

Was a good conversation, I started on the assembly of the planters I've cut up already, so I took the phone in and Polly yaked with Taylor till her BF came home. Was nice to talk with her. 

I finished assembling the two boxes just as the rain came again, so closed the doors, and into the house for a little bit of leftovers, and a snooze. 

Didn't do much the rest of the day, but was really happy with my day yesterday, nice to have one that feels perfect. 

Hmm, after writing this I'm headed to another perfect day ahead, starting with coffee ☕ ☕ and finishing this blog. 

Life is good, sure do love our life ❤️