Enjoying retirement, what's it mean to you?

I'm sitting outside my shop today, just thinking about how there isn't anything I have to do right now. Enjoying the quiet that comes early, knowing the rush of Friday will happen later. My warmed up hotdog 🌭 

from yesterday, I couldn't finish, and cold coffee ☕ from this morning. 

I'm enjoying the Glimpses I get here. I noticed the redwood 🌲 so perfectly formed compared to the fir trees.

The breeze just starting, the warmth from the sun feels great, perfect? I think so, no travel today, a walk around the neighborhood earlier, talking to friends I've never met before, I'm sure I'll meet again. I'm very fortunate to have the ability to talk with others, making friends so darn quickly, I surprise myself sometimes, as I walk away thinking, WOW, that was great 👍.

Today I met an older woman as I stood infront of her home, I really liked how the arbour was covered in Ivey, that's what caught my attention at first, the shape. Then as I looked I realized there was much more to this place, I continued to move left a little seeing more as I moved, first the flowers, then the pumpkins hanging, then the covered walkway, that's very cool, ya don't see that often I thought. 

Then as I was thinking about how beautiful the display was, the front door opens, and an older woman comes out, she spoke with an accent, German maybe, I'm not sure I didn't ask. We talked about the covered walkway, I said how beautiful it was, like Chinese looking with the scallops under the roof. She said there was a covered walkway in the back to the garage too. She said her daughter did the decorating, of course I said how good it all looked. Then the unexpected, she asked me if I'd like to look at the other walkway in the back? Yes, that'd be great.

So off we ploded, through the carport, seeing her daughter cleaning the pond I said Hi, and the conversation just ran, from the pond, to the garden, to the covered walkway, the garage, the storing of stuff, I was in awe actually. They were so welcoming, I learned that the daughter has to clip the Lilly pads, and take them out now, it's what she was doing, they grow back in the spring. The whole pond was fenced, and wire mesh over it too, I asked about birds trying still to get in? Nope, they stay away now, the fish are safe. Racoons, that was also a problem, but no more now. They were swimming in the pond the daughter said. 

We had a really nice visit, I forgot to mention the older woman before I left told me that she has both her daughters living with them, and her grandson, nice to have help with what needs to be done. She said she bought the house about 8 years ago, sold her small farm in Abbotsford and moved here when prices were decent. I forgot to mention that she had a bunch of colours dyed in streaks her hair, I didn't ask, I just noticed. No judgement, just was pleased to have had this morning conversation and tour of their yard. 

So getting back to my way, I just fall into the conversation. Thinking about it I just ask a question, ❓ that leads to another, then I shake my head at how it happens. 

Fortunate I say, just fortunate to have the welcoming ability. 

The breeze a little more now, but still light, still relatively quiet, just a few more cars moving about now. Afternoon is here, people get moving now. 

My sister in-law is coming over today, Polly has been busy making a cake 🎂 for her, her birthday was earlier in October, Polly didn't call this time, Lyn did giver her a shot about not calling, Polly wouldn't give in that she'd forgot, she remember, but wasn't sure what day it was.... LoL 😂 🤣.  I gotta here the chat that's going to happen when she gets here 😂

Well I did accomplish something, I finished my hotdog 🌭, and my coffee, and took a few photos, and wrote this blog. Oh, and I really enjoyed the sun outside my shop. Yep, I'm going to love this new adventure, staying in one place of our own for awhile. 

Love our Life ❤️

Sunday morning after another busy week.

The view from Shayla & Carl's living room 

We went to Naniamo yesterday, a short visit with our granddaughter Shayla and her husband Carl was really good, our first visit with them since they were married. Was good, so much to talk about, as they are moving now to their new home, we didn't want to stop her from working, but Carl was busy getting the trailer ready, so she could take time to yak a bit. We talked about her siblings, her Mom, her dad, and the wedding, just how it all went, her time with her bridesmaids, and just how it all worked out perfectly. 

After she showed us a few photos from that day, one of her parents one each side of her they both smiling 😁, was nice for her. Many of her and Carl, really good photos. Some of her dress, and a few of others. Was really nice to just sit and yak awhile, been a long time since we were able, we busy, they busy. 

As we were driving to there rented home I realized likely be the last time we'd be driving here, they had lived there a long time now, so got used to the area, it has a really nice view of the water, a steep driveway I won't miss, but the view and the views as we'd walk around the area, I'll miss that. I know we could go there anytime, but without her wouldn't be the same. 

Still I'll remember the really nice walks and talks we had while they lived here. To say we are close would be a good way to think, we are connected in so many ways, and our history is long, from the time she was a little girl, just born to now as she begins her marriage, and new to them home in Cedar, not far from the dry land sort she works at. 

I'm looking forward to visiting her and Carl there too, but I'm going to remember where they lived when they first started out. 

In our talk yesterday I realized just how grown up she's become, as we talked about her siblings, just how calm she was and just how wise she's become at what I think is an early age.

I'm extremely happy for them to make this big purchase, and begin there lives together with so much opportunity ahead. Yup a proud Pepere alright, Memeres proud too. 

Today we have a rest, Polly interested in planting her memorial garden she wants to make, she's done the digging, bought the bulbs, now for the planting and the extra dirt she wants to get to cover them. Then the white picket fence "small pickets" she's told me at least half a dozen times 😁, yep I know I keep telling her, "Small" 👍

Been a long time since we gardened anything except a flower box. 

Feeling content right now, many things planned, but content in that we are home 🏡 

Love our life ❤️ 

Just a little bit of stuff stored!

Doesn't look like much, but was a big job getting it all outta the crawl space.

Thanks for storing what we couldn't while we were on the road Americo&Claudette, we were much younger when we stuffed it all in your crawl space under your home I found out yesterday. Getting in and out of there bringing boxes to Polly, then she brings them up the few stairs to the garage floor. Yep, we were much younger then, I can feel it today. 

On the positive, we both slept well, had a really good dinner with our friends,

 then played cribbage a different way after dinner, on a mat that we played as partners. Was fun to learn, and laughing, that's a given when we are with these two. 

Ya know great friendships happen, sometimes ya don't know exactly how, but our friendship with A&C has been since Claudette and I met at a first aid course year's ago, friendship developed as we went to volleyball, then a dance, and a blind date with Polly, that was the start of our relationship, with our friends and our relationship together 🤗

Today we'll my make our way home 🏡 later, with our stuff, mostly photos, packed in our truck cab. What we can't get in Americo & Claudette will bring at a later time in their van. Sure do appreciate our good friends ❤️

Sure do love our life ❤️