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 ❤️ 

Decisions decisions 💭🤔

  Blood pressure pills seem to be working 

Sunday again, love early Sunday morning, I woke at 6 this morning, is 6:50 now, time doesn't slow down lately. Busy days, and TV at night. Yesterday I decided to give my shop a really good organization and sweep out the sawdust I've been making, was a bigger job than I thought it would be. 

Polly went with her sister to the inside garage/clothing sale, then to play a little Keno. I had a mission, so I didn't join them. I started early, so did Polly, cleaning and changing the sheets, all in order by noon. Off she went, and I continue the moving the wood that has been in my way out to a covered storage area in our yard. I just couldn't operate in that confined, stumble of a shop anymore. 

I'm thinking of continuing today, see what Polly has planned, if I do, things will get much better as I continue to make new things. 

I've been looking at these two branches I saved from the fire 🔥 this winter on a trip to Courtenay visiting friends. I got a couple pieces of wood given to me by my brother in law, one would make a really nice table top. With the Planters being on pause, I'll make something new I'm thinking. I looked at the possibility yesterday as I was moving things around, I'm not sure yet, but be nice to be creative. 

Coffee ☕ is ready, I plan a walk this morning too. I have not been walking lately, but today that's going to change. 

I'm quite comfortable here listening to the clock tick, and the coffee pot make the sounds it does as it heats, then stops over and over. So quiet. Outsidethe birds are so busy building nests, spring is a real treat, if ya take the time to enjoy it. 

Different walking here, at Arrowvale I was in and around the animals, and the forest. Here I start out in the town, but still not far from the forest. Just gotta go!

Belly is rumbling, coffee ☕ is calling, gotta go.

Sure do love a Sunday morning 🤗 

Love our life ❤️

Hurry hurry, Dr appointment in Duncan

And here I sit, rushed down to this office, filled out the 3 sheets of questions, back and front, ready for the Dr, at 11:30, now it's 12 and still I'm waiting. I'm guessing that's not too bad, considering it took over a year to get this appointment. Knee surgery is what I'm asking for, been a very sore knee for quite a few years now. 

My regular DR said wait till it wakes you up in the night before you start asking for a specialist. Well if I keep waiting, I'm going to be just sitting in a chair 🪑 all day. So I'm asking to see if I can get more mobile again. My walking has suffered the last few years, I can still walk, but often I pay for it when I do. 

A short walk slowly, not too bad, a little more speed, and longer and I'm going to be in pain for awhile, maybe a day or two. 

Oh well, just the way it is is what we all say, but is this how we should accept the system we have in place? I'm not sure that anything can be done, accept maybe become an athlete, too late for that, or a politician, they get good service, or rich so I can pay for the extra service. 

Are there other options? I just don't know it's now 12:10, still no call. I guess I'm just used to my regular DR, as almost always on time. 

Well I've looked at some new planters I can make, Mom on them will be something for Mother's Day, many options for this year. I wonder this year why it is a little slow getting orders for planters? It's just beginning, I'm sure people will be wanting them soon. 

Dinner out tonight with friends, watched a really good hockey 🏒 game with a friend last night, they won! Go Bulldogs! 🎉🎉 Polly went to the casino while I was at the game, Winner! 😁 The way she told me was fun to listen to, love her enthusiasm for the game's. 

Oh, hey there the Dr calling me in, Nice. Dr Popovic orthopedic surgeon, now a bunch more questions, then decision, want surgery or? I'm asking about length of time the pieces last, 25 Year's! Ahh that's great. Then I asked, if I say no now, will I still be able to get back in? No problem she says, just call and the secretary will give ya an appointment, or even a phone appointment if I choose. 

Fantastic, she answered all my questions, that feels good knowing I'm ok to wait till I'm sure I want the surgery. 

Ok now we take off back to Port, next decision, where to have lunch? I say Dog house, Polly says Alice's, so I set the gps, to find out how long, and on our way by, we decided the Hideaway, by Chemainus.  Lunch was good, fish & chips, Polly paid, and off we went home. Another day done almost, except for dinner now. 

Retired and Dr appointment, kinda go together 😂

We were on the road again, for awhile 🤗

Love our life ❤️ 

Easter Sunday morning 🐰

             Polly's memorial garden 

I wonder how Easter got associated with Bunny's and egg's? I see my grandson went to see a bunny that was set-up like Santa visit. I got a video of this, he was kinda uneasy about it at first, I would have been too seeing a 6 foot bunny sitting waiting for ya 😳 to come sit beside him. 

Today I'm quite content to sit and enjoy my coffee ☕ and peck on this phone - computer - camera I'm holding. 

I was surprised a little seeing my daughter still buying candy gifts for her son's as they are young men now, 17 & 19, just seemed way past my expectations to still get Easter baskets. I'm not sure there is a exact time that ya stop, but I kinda thought in early teens. 

Still is nice to get a gift I'm sure. Today we'll go for another Easter dinner, had one on Friday at Polly's brothers house, our sister in law made a really nice dinner, turkey and ham, with everyone bringing something different. Made for a real good time. Was a fun time alright, 16 were expected, but 2 didn't show. Still was a nice dinner, and 2 young children with and adult that acts like a child sometimes made for fun time's. 

Dan has some really nice cars, so got to show my other brother in law Danny his cars, he really liked seeing them, and his shop. 

Just got a call from our granddaughter Taylor, it's her birthday 🎂 today, she's calling to say thanks for $ for her birthday, we like to send $ rather than a present 🎁. Much easier, and they can choose their present then. Had a nice visit with her, and Polly got up too so was nice to hear from her. 

Her brother Jayden has a birthday tomorrow, born a day apart, three years apart. Wow, I'm just thinking how fast that time went, from being young children to now, young adults, on their own, working and living on their own. Seems such a short time ago 🤗. 

Polly is now looking at a new vacuum, tired of the one we have she's said, "going to get another one". Amazon is where she's searching, "Yep! This is the one!" "Different colours" I hear her mumble, I'm guessing I'm going to have to order today. "Finally had enough of this old one" Polly says. Okay, whatever keeps ya happy 😊 I say. 

And in an instant, we can tap away on the phone, and in a couple days a box will arrive with her new machine. "So did ya order it?" I ask. "No I didn't, I don't know how to do that." Guess I gotta show her, but good for her to know. "Nope, u order, I don't have an account." is Pollys response. So I did. 

Today we will plant the flowers I bought yesterday, just starting Polly off, more to come I'm sure. I built a fence or trellis that has flower boxes on it, for Pollys memorial garden she's making for Chris, Memere and Pepere, her Mom and Dad. It looks good now with all the flowers Polly planted last fall, now coming up, but she wanted a backstop kinda fence, so that's what she got. Today we'll plant the boxes. 

I got a couple grape/blueberry plants too,

be interesting seeing these come to fruitation. Life in a not so mobile home 🏡 is giving us another shot at gardening. 

Always change in our lives, 

Love our life ❤️ 

Sunday morning once again 🤗

Love Sundays ❤️ as it's the day many take off to reflect on the week past. Some cut their lawn, do their shopping, visit friends or family, or take a hike on a unusual trail, or a drive to another place, beach, or park. Some go to church. Today I'm not sure what we'll do yet, how we decide when no sure plans have been made is left to the morning getup, and what we talk about. 

A drive now with gas and for us diesel prices makes us think just a little more about the trip. Buying another car & possibly selling Rambo has been on our minds lately, but Polly said, "let's just wait a year, see how things go, see if we decide to get another camping trailer, just wait, maybe buy a small car." I agreed, so am looking at cars, and not sure what will be our new vehicle. 

6:40 now, coffee ☕ is ready, was a late night for us, we went to a birthday party Ivan turned 39 again, 🥳 🎉 then a dance last night, was fun to dance for a change, been a long time since we really danced as much as we did, knee told me so this morning. Was fun, meeting people we hadn't seen for a long time, and seeing others from a distance, a wave 👋🏻 was nice, I didn't feel I had to talk with everyone. Beaver Creek Hall is along way from town, but was a good time had by many. 

I made a sign yesterday in the back of the Santa I'd made for Christmas, was a spring sign, one welcoming the 🌞 celebrating the beginning of warmer weather. I used all acrilic paint, except for the black on the eyes, I didn't have any acrilic so I use this other one that washed away in the rain last night, so a redo is in order today. I wanted to make some changes anyway. Was fun to paint again. 

I made a birdhouse for Ivan, thought he could use it at his camp in the summer,
they go to the same place every summer, a beautiful campground on the inlet, not too far from town. Well have to go visit him and Wendy this summer for sure. 

I'm not sure what I'll make next, I also have a bed that folds up that I have to make a decision on, do I cut it up and use it in my shop as a bench, or do I try to reassemble it to use in our spare room? It's been sitting in our sunroom awhile now, gotta decide soon. 

I have a bad habit of collecting things and saying I'll deal with it later, well later can take a long time, and things start piling up, so this I'll deal with this week for sure. I want to get our sun room ready for our sunny mornings, not a storage room. For now I'm going to get a coffee ☕, and read a little of the news about our world, then hopefully Polly will get up, and our day will develop. 

Yep, sure do love our life ❤️ 

Why do I cry when people win against evil?

Watching Equalizer 3 again at the end I teared up, and wondered why? I know, I'm not surprised, just wondering what triggers it? We all want to win, have the good guys win, and even though I know it's just a show, I'm completely absorbed in it. I'm hoping that the good will overcome, and whenever it does I'm overcome with a feeling of? Happy, peace, righteous, just feeling the good won! 

Looking at the story, it ended with the bad guys getting killed, But! There were more, and in one scene the head bad guy says if it wasn't me selling the drug's somebody else would. 

Making me think he's right, as looking about in this world the war on drugs as it was called has not changed things, drugs are even more available now than before. No matter how many people get arrested, or how much of the drug's have been taken away, the street always seems to be full of what people want. 

So the feeling of the good guy wins is temporary, as the bad seems to win overall, as another steps up to take there place if one falls. 

Delema is what to do? What to believe? What's good? What's bad? Who's to determine that? 

We all have a moral code, not all the same, but our own code to live by.

Criminal behavior is operating on there own moral code, I'm not sure what that is, but I'm sure it's not mine. 

Reading what's happening in our world now I'm always thinking with my moral code. Others in this world are operating with their own moral code, criminal? Not that the laws, or the lawyer's or politicians are labeled as criminals, in their minds they are performing under their own moral code. 

Mostly I try not to think about it too much, but I do just the same. 

Hope is what we have to hang onto, hope that it will be ok in awhile, maybe next week, next month, next year! Hope is really how we endure this bazaar time in our life. 

What can we do? Write ✍🏻 a letter, speak to you representative? Buy this, don't buy that, exercise restraint. Travel less, spend less. Us right now, we are enjoying this moment in time, our retirement that is closer to home. Worry is a waste of the moment, so just for today I'm quite content to watch a good movie, call our good friends, and sit beside my Love, even as I write she's watching another cooking show 😛, to my benefit. 

             Just had to eat the last piece 

Love our life ❤️ 

Patient's. No not in hospital, in me!

Sometimes I have patience, most times but when I fired up my laptop today I found myself wanting it to be as fast as my phone. I realized it's just not from the same era, made at a different time, in a different way. My patients in time gave me opportunity to check out what I had on my computer that I'd forgotten. 

I tapped into my memory of time's gone by, so many great memories. Starting with memories of our sons photos, then cabin photos, and friends, and videos I made on July 1st, at Saratoga Beach with Americo & Claudette ❤️. Yep a lot of great memories, even a huge file of Africa memories, that was a good look at how beautiful that trip was, and the memory of just how I was feeling after Chris's funeral, as it was just a month before we went to Africa, a very tender time for Polly and I. 

Patient's was rewarded today, still so much different with a laptop vs the ease of clicking on the screen of my phone. 

Last week Polly & I watched a few videos on DVD that I'd recorded on our video camera many years ago, when our grandchildren were younger. Was fun to see and remember when our grandchildren were so young, and the fun time's we had with them. We are both really happy with the time's we took to enjoy their youth, happy to have not only a memory, as well as video to watch to remember. 

I've always loved photos, and video fits right in too. I learned that just taking a video wasn't like making a movie, as to make it interesting and watchable for others, ya have to edit it, get the interesting parts, and delete the less interesting parts. As the one taking most of the video, I can watch most all of it, but others, not so much. 

I don't have to show them off, just enjoy them myself, with Polly, but a few I'll bring out for the kids to watch as they will get a chance to see themselves when young, be fun to watch them watch themselves and others in the family. 

Some of the DVD's don't play, so I'm going to try another DVD player, see if I can get them working. One really special one I want to get working, I remember the time we really want to show our granddaughter Shayla, as well as others. There was a time when we had Shayla and Jayden for over a month when Catherine was injured. That was a really special time for us being so close with them, daily enjoying the daily fun we'd had together. 

Nice to have some recorded, that we can see with them now. 

Rain is persistent today, going to be staying close to home today, I know I won't melt, but not wanting to go out in it. 

I worked at getting my little shop just a little more organized the last few days, trying to get a for sure plan of how I'll lay out the best way for the work to flow. Just so much in it, hard to decide where everything will Go. Maybe today be the day it gets done? That's if I don't go building something else 🤣. 

Friends to visit this afternoon, dinner out tomorrow, another birthday 🎂 to celebrate 🥳, Saturday a dance, and another birthday celebration 🎉 🎉 🎉. 

Busy is good, 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Sunday morning, early spring now 🌞

Snow/rain forecast, I'm thinking be warming up, and the rain is a coming. Had the best sunny day yesterday, building a couple more planters, installed 5 planters I made on a neighbours deck. Good productive day I say. Polly went to Parksville with Lyn, of course a little shopping, and a trip to the pub for a Keno possibility, they do enjoy there time together ❣️ I got to enjoy my time building. 

We all have our own interests, whatever turns your? Or another is whatever floats your boat! Me I like working with wood, and just enjoying this in my retirement is perfect for me. I also enjoy writing here, well pecking on this phone computer camera, LoL who ever thought we'd have so much power in the palm of our hand? 

Polly gets me a coffee ☕, and on her way said to the little box we got from our grandson Jesse, "Google Play 70s music" 🎶 🎵 and it does. Amazing I think that we can order something to do what ya want with a verbal order. 

Mmm  😋 ☕ coffee is good this morning, I just had to turn the music down a bit, "Hey Google, turn down 10%" and it does. Life is good, even with all the pains and creeking and older body has. Long cool woman in a black dress just came on, yep great way to start our Sunday. 9am now, no solid plans today, dinner at Penny's is cancelled, Jet's got a cold, so doesn't want us infected. 

I'm sure I'm going to get into my shop for awhile as I stuck lots of wood in there yesterday to dry out a little, the black I need to paint the trim with needs dry wood to stick properly. Thinking back to the last few days, I've been busy in a good way, weather has cooperated, tee shirt 👕 weather. Content to sit this morning though and peck here a bit.

We have been thinking of what we'll get as a camper for our summer, and travel, just not sure what'll work best for us. Polly a definite no to a camper, small pull trailer be just a little too small, started looking at small fifth wheel trailer I'm thinking this be best, then keep Rambo. We did talk about a van for sleeping in, but no toilet be no good for us. Anyway no decision yet, mind that's kinda how we roll, a little talk, a little research, then a little more yak. 

Well come to terms with it in the future, till then we keep thinking, keep looking. We have been asked many times now if we miss travel, if we miss our trailer and way of life. Sometimes we do but mostly we're very happy with our new home, all around just very happy and surprised how quickly it all came to pass. Content is how I'd describe it. 

Now the order from Polly "Hey Google shut down" and the TV goes on. I LoL a little as a program gets picked now, Polly is very good at the remote. I'll be heading out to the shop pretty soon, not to interested in the TV early in the day. 

Yup Sunday morning 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

How do you write after the loss.

Watched the wizard of Oz last night, sure was fun to see again, been so many years since we had seen it. So much we never noticed when we last saw it. 🧙🏻‍♀️🧹

Woke this morning to Polly coming back to bed, tied, 1-0 for USA she said. Our feed was buggerd she said. Both of us have colds, I took a pill when I was awake at 2 am, Polly stayed up, she was awake at 1:30, it's taking it's toll on us. Anyway, now I couldn't go back to sleep, so up I get and get the TV back on line, and now 1-1 tie 2nd period ends. 

Polly says she's done, staying in bed, I'm watching the 3rd now. Great play, but no goals so off to OT. Didn't turn out in our favor. Darn I say in other words, was expecting a different outcome. Oh well, someone has to loose, even though I'm not really alright with it. 

So now what? Watching a few videos, then to a series we were told about by our granddaughter, maybe that'll take the sting out. I think it's day 5 for me, Polly just getting to her worse day, cold always an unwelcome hack, hack, feeling. I always say, oh! I'm feeling better today, well let's hope this time it's true. Polly have another couple days before she's better. Just something we have to go through once in awhile. Been a long time since we've had one, and many have had it in town this year. So our turn.

I made 4 planters this week, but have no desire to make more yet, early in the year. I'll get energy again sometime, just coasting right now. We have watched a lot of TV this winter, different when we stay put, not traveling as before. We did have a busy weekend last weekend, was nice to see everyone on Sunday, people we don't get to see often, Friday and Saturday, birthday and a dinner/concert dance in town visited with many here in Port too, made for a busy weekend. 

Had to turn down a dinner invite yesterday and and couple birthdays, oh well can't go when not feeling well. Today we are starting a new series Mayor of Kingstown, Taylor Sheridan I see again, man how many series has he written?

Well so far seems like a good interesting show, will see as it goes. 

Sunday morning rains, weather has changed now, warmer & even with the rain ☔ is appreciated. On to a movie instead, Grace & Goliath, is a fun movie 🍿. 

Even when we're sick 

Love our life ❤️ 

I gotta cold, watching Canadian team play.

As the second period ends, Crosby is off injured, game is 2-2. I'm saying team has to step it up! As the commentors talk about how big a deal it is having Crosby put out of the game, Czech's really pounded him. Polly goes to "Is Crosby married?" I'm like 😜 "what's that got to do with Crosby being outta the game?" We catter about it, me saying "if she was a trainer giving him some attention, then I'd understand, but I don't get the switch being" "I wonder if he's married? 

Well between periods I learned Crosby and his GF been together 20 years, she's a sports illustrated model, now we know. I know we think differently, that's something I already knew, but in this case I was just learning again just how different we think. 

Polly is more competitive that I am, so she's more invested in the game, yet we both want our Canadian team to win. I just laugh at how different we think about the same game. I have a man cold, maybe that's why I'm not thinking about correctly. 

That's always a joke, "man cold" but I gotta say, feeling really shitty making my thoughts different I believe. Along with all the other stuff I gotta deal with getting older, that just compounds it. Good thing our teams performing good 👍🏻, but so are the Czech's. 

Nervous now, feeling like the game between Canada and USA already predetermined, but we have to win this one. 

On another matter, Rambo went to the transmission shop yesterday, I think the whining underneath has been truly diagnosed, is the overdrive unit on the back end of the transmission that's got problems. Steve didn't have the tools to be able to take this apart, so we've decided to trust the job to B&A transmission. A busy shop, but expect to get to it this week. Be nice to have all good again. 

Ok games back on, Polly watching the baby she calls him #17 Celebrini, young player making a name for himself during this Olympics. Polly's armchair coaching is getting really animated as the time starts running close, "ohh no, ooohhh no" Polly saying "big trouble!" Czechia score's😜

Ok now "Go go go, don't stop!" The armchair coaching gets very aggressive. 

As I'm replying to a message from a friend, wohoooo! Polly screaming, leg's flopping up and down, she's really into the game now, I am but Polly is really on it! 

Great way to spend our morning, hockey 🏒 game Canada back in it, 3-3 now. Polly full coaching now, "where is the little 19year old, let him score the goal!" 

I got say excited she is, good game alright. A breakaway, and a save, "good boy" Polly says, yep fully invested now. 

I'm going to watch, oops, period ends now, or coming up. I'm going to cut it off now, watch the other period, hoping that Canada will win, as I listen to Polly coach them to the win we're hoping for! 🇨🇦🏒

Go Canada!

Love our life ❤️ 

Sunday travel day. Hockey 🏒 day too.

                            6-1 

A little sore today as I woke, back just not as I'd like it, sitting last night at the Elton John performance got to me. Was a fun evening, with friends, dinner was great, the performance was good too, after he got the equipment to perform properly. Best part being with friends Don and Bev Lloyd, along with their family. Lyn and Andrew came too, made for a really good evening. 

I think the planters I was making yesterday helped me make my back sore too, standing too much. Sometimes I just don't have patience for my limitations, just wanna do what I want without having to adjust for my limitations. Thinking about it now, I'm freaking lucky I can do what I can do. 

Enough of the bitchin, today we travel to Courtenay for a fire 🔥 on the beach with friends there, or best friends are busy with their grandsons birthday 🎂, so they won't be there this time, but the rest we look forward to seeing. Not a long distance, but the travel we both look forward to, sometimes I miss the getting out on the road we have been used to with our trailer behind. 

This time will be travel in our friends van, as Rambo still not repaired, got to go to the transmission shop tomorrow, overdrive unit I'm told is the problem. Gotta get it right this time 👍🏻 not always sure what's making the noise. 

This morning the Olympic hockey 🏒 game is our start, thanks to Steve reminding me. Canada vs France. We really haven't watched much yet, but since I started watching the curling as my grandson was interested, got me seeing the big call by a swedish team calling the Canadian team cheater's. That's a huge deal, big story this morning I read. Who ever thought I'd be following curling. That's life, surprise around the corner, just never know. 

Today's hockey game I believe is determined, Canada will win, the game that really is a test is Canada vs USA. No Russian team's this round of the Olympics, I'm still in awe of this, a war that continues while we watch Olympics on TV. I shake my head as I can't really believe how odd our world is. We are so fortunate to be where we are, and enjoying all the benefits we have access to.

3-1 for Canada now, not a wipeout, Suzuki hits the post, Polly says "Ahh, ya heard that hey!" Polly plays her game on her tablet, and deal's out her play by play🏒🤣

4-1 now, yep going to be big score. Funny how we expect our team to win. Nice to have a really good team to cheer for. 

Well that's our plan today, will travel to Victoria on Wednesday, visit a friend there in hospital. Then next week to Chemainus for another Dr checkup. The life of a person who stays put now, I wonder if this will change? I was looking at trips to Thailand the other day, Polly got excited, I'm thinking we will wait till the fall, be our next big trip. Who knows where we'll end up? Kinda nice to have a surprise every once in awhile. 

Goalie is down now, new blade, amazing, just pop in a new blade, and back to goal tending. Things really have changed. 

Gotta get ready now, lucky us today, OMG, a penalty shot now 😯. He score's with his parents on camera watching. Celebrini, scores, now Crosby scores, yep going to be a wipeout. Crosby setting a record. 

Travel day, 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

How's your morning?

   Made a clock this week, I do like Wood

I'm having a wonderful morning this morning, got a reel set to me last night by a friend that was of a comedian's act on stage, had me LoL first thing, so funny he was. Then during my first coffee I got a reel come up of Jonny Cash and Kris Kristopherson singing Sunday morning coming down. Was really good, I listened for most the song, then I just had to do a little research. 

I looked up where Kris Kristopherson was born, Brownsville, Texas, well that got me doing the searches. Kris was always a favorite of mine, yet I never looked at where he was from, or about his life. I learned that he is said the guy that changed Nashville, pre Kris and post Kris I read, WOW. 

I do like that I can just peck here and there on this phone/computer and get information so darn quickly. I remember the first time I went to an article on Texas, about the history. WOW, I was blown away how the highlighted blue writing would take me to another part of the history. I was deep into the history of Texas in minutes, of course it felt like minutes, looking back I'm not sure how long it took, but wow did I get an education. 

Well today I got a similar feeling, as when I started looking back at his career, I was thinking what a change up he did, from the jock military kinda guy to the artist as he seemed to always love. 

Ya just never know how things will go hey. Sill I love that I can research things early when I've not yet started to move about, my morning is early, and don't move too fast, but my finger on the phone sure does, along with my brain. 

I'm going to do a little more searching about Kris, got a couple movies I'll watch he made. I wonder if they will make a movie about him? He was quite a guy, sure do love his music. 

Just thought I had to write this down. 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Polly still sleeping 😴.

Sunday morning, game day for many!

This morning I woke to a conversation with my grandson in law about curling, he was watching Canada vs Sweden, I turned it on too, just to see what was up. I'm not a curling fan so much, but was interesting just the same. 

I scrolled through the News on my phone, while I drank my coffee ☕, hearing a loss for Canada, as the Swede's blocked heavily at the end for a win. What do I know? 

As I watched I kept scrolling through the news, Cuba came up with the crisis continuing there, with no fuel for most anything, although been like this awhile, getting worse as Venezuela was the steady supply, now that's gone. 

My thoughts went to the people, we did visit there once and the people we as we are, friendly happy, yet odd in that a well educated person would work at a tourist job, as their own profession wouldn't pay as much. Odd fo us to understand, yet their own society was Free education, free health care, but broke?! 

My thoughts went to the people, like us, with no way to change things. Then to that here we are flipping through channels, comfortable in our homes, while around the world still people slept on the floor, waking to continued poor life, with no way to change it. 

I hear as I watch hockey 🏒 now, Russia not allowed to participate in Olympics this year. Hmm, I wonder what the athletes are doing in Russia, how they are thinking. When you train to that level, and only one chance to go to the Olympics often, just imagine, again no control over what you're government does and how it effects you. Although in Russia I'm thinking the top athletes get treated good, as long as the athletes are able to compete. 

Sweden scores, France not happy. 

It's light out now, every day light a little earlier, love this, feeling of optimism with the more light early and later in our day's. Polly is up now, no frills on her radar today, gotta get the deals she read about yesterday. 

Life goes on, as I read on, now about the PPWC Union president about the plight of the 400 workers he represents, loosing their jobs this month. 

         Reflection is the hockey game 

Sweden is beating france 2-0 now, Cuban's woke to no bus to get to town, or home from town, and Ukraine, I can't really imagine. Every day I thank my lucky Stars! 

Canada plays at 12:10 Polly tells me now, I love how she thinks, priorities 😁🏒

Seahawks at the Superbowl later today be our game to watch. 

Love our life ❤️ 

Sunday morning, almost afternoon now.

Grandchildren talk today, our granddaughter Taylor, she's in Grande Prairie Alberta, miss her, but a video call does help. She's always gives a Snapchat, so often get some kind of message daily. Was really nice to chat with her. 

A message to our other granddaughter Shayla, was good, a message from my daughter Penny was nice this morning early too. Most every day we message. 

Polly talked with her sister Lyn, she mostly does every other day, they are very close. 

Later we talked with our good friends in Ontario, Mike & Linda, was really nice to catch up, as we haven't seen each other for a couple years now. 

A message with our good friends Americo & Claudette was nice too, always keeping in touch with them. 

So much good communication today, is a really good Sunday so far. 

Sun's out now, so we went for a drive out towards China Creek, I've been wanting to see where the fire was this past summer. WOW, was much different that I'd imagined. More small trees burned than I thought would be. Whole mountains burned up, what a shame it is.

 Power lines are replaced temporarily with lines buried on the edge of the road, poles to be replaced in the future, and lines rehung on them. I hear the power lines are what started the fire, a transformer blowing up. 

On our way back I turned down the Franklin River road, that led to the sawmill at the mouth of the river. Had a look around there, I'd never driven there before, just saw it from the water as we drove by in the boat for many years on our way to our cabin. Lots of hemlock being cut there, I thought filling the orders that the APD might have had before it was shut down. 

Change happens, sometimes like a fire, quick and extreme. Other times like our mills shutting down, that takes a little longer, but here we are almost no sawmills left in Port Alberni, just small mills, and our papermill. What a change, all I've seen in my lifetime. 

I wonder what's yet to come? 

Love our life changing life ❤️ 

Watching "A complete unknown"

Thinking of our transition's in somewhat recent history as I watch and think how has our society got to here after such thoughtful music of days gone by. Folk songs we were raised on, seem to be forgotten now. In the midst of this new world order as I've been hearing said, the lessons that the music brought seems to have not just faded, but has been covered over with the BS of this hmm, new Wave. 

Do we have to renew our way's every few generations? Is this what's happening now? It feels like the New is covering over the past lessons, like when a wall is plastered over, except when ya plaster a wall, you going for smooth, what I see is a mess, bumpy, craggy, looking, ruff, crack's all over. 

I just saw the door 🚪 of the apartment that Bob and his girlfriend lived in, was all full of crack's, as the show goes to the revolution in Cuba, along with the News about this event. Amazing we hear of this again, Cuba changing again. 

I'm thinking that as with fashion, and clothes changing, that our society is the same, out with the Old, in with the New! 

As I listen to him then Joan Biaz join in, sing "Blowing in the wind" the line I always pick up on is "Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs fly

Before they're forever banned?"

I'm not sure we have learned about this, as daily we see more bomb's fly, now with drone's, we, (the instigator of the action) are, further away from where the bombs hit than ever before. Actually I'm sure we have not learned this lesson, and looking at how the way things are going we may never learn. 

Bob Dylan is like a poet singing through his poems that tell a lesson each one. Too bad we the people of the world listen, yet continue to battle for what we consider the freedom we desire. Folk songs are great, yet the world seems to be headed for that smashing crashing of the heavy Rock, without the roll! 

Appropriately, the next song is "The time's they are a changing" yep they sure are, again and again. That's my lesson for today, for me, change is one thing that continues, regardless what I, or any of us  think it should be, could be, or wish it to be. 

Who decides the direction change will be? Hmm, I'm not privy to that information, mostly I think "whatever", as I can make my mind up what I believe moral, and others do the same. What comes we judge, but it'll come anyway, no matter our beliefs or thoughts. 

Deep thoughts today, as the rains pound down, changing our landscape I see from the news on my phone, flooding here and there, roads closed, community's cutoff, landslides, tree's falling, yep change is one thing we can count on. 

Good day to watch this movie for a second time, Polly says "Boy is it Ever Raining out there!" Yeppers a good day to stay in. 

Love our life ❤️ even with the rainy days 

Sunday morning calm here.

I woke this morning still a little tired, 5:20am, still a pretty good sleep. Thinking of our evening, dinner with friends was great. So much fun, meeting each other after many moons of time passed. Two couples we had visited with in the last couple months, but one couple we hadn't seen for awhile. 

Remembering the time's we had spent at Cluxewe camping in the late summer end of August early September we've had wonderful time's with these friends. We changed our travel plans a few years ago, so no September in Cluxewe, that made for much different times. The question came up last night, "Will you be going to Cluxewe this fall?" "I'm not sure" was my answer, as we have been going to Grande Prairie in the late summer early fall for the last few years, visiting our grandchildren there. 

I do think we would like to, but arranging this, I'm just not sure right now, Polly and I have to talk about it, how we'd still get our visit in with our grandkids and camp at Cluxewe too. Someone mentioned we could book a cabin there at that time,? Hmm, not the experience I'd be looking for, but hmm, a thought. 

That conversation disappeared quickly, as with 8 of us all shooting off thoughts during the evening, we had lots of catching up to do, and discovering more about each other during our evening. 

Dinner was great, Polly made a really good spaghetti sauce, and some had seconds, wine flowed well, and ceaser salad was great along with cheeseee garlic bread, such a wonderful dinner. Conversation slowed, but not too much, joke's were told, and funny stories, can't say enough about just how much fun the evening was. 

8 people, all from different walks of life getting together, as we would camping, without the smoke from the fire 🔥 this time. Fireplace was on, but with all the yak, we really didn't notice it too much. 

I didn't take any photos, but as I tried this morning to take a picture of the fireplace I realized photos won't save to my phone? Bugger, now got to figure this out? Oh well, just another bit of mystery to my day😆

Polly's up now, after 8, so time for me to get busy doin something. Off goes the fireplace, and up I get. 

Sure do love our Life ♥️ in one place 👍

Everybody wants to rule the world 🌎

Rule? 

Thinking about this line "Everybody wants to rule the world" as I listen to the music 🎶 singing this song Saturday afternoon, after reading about another person with his daughter being taken from their home to Texas for and held till March when a judge will hear their case. Wondering how that will go? 

Our prime minister is taking a lead in decisions to make sure Canada continues to move ahead, but in a different direction. I'm not sure if this will be our best bet, but I do believe that status quo is not going to be our future, change is happening whether we like it or not. 

I have read much lately that gives me thought of who's in charge? Who does rule the world? 🌎.  I know there are mighty superpowers that believe "might is right" another saying I've heard before, kinda like the bully in the playground. I never thought that was how our world would operate, I always believed that law and order was the way. These days I'm not so sure anymore. 

I've read about people quoting how people should behave, while people are breaking the rules of their own country, and people are breaking the rules of war! I really don't understand that there are rules of anything anymore, seems like people, many people are doing whatever they want now, rules don't apply, at least to them, as the expect others to operate within the rules. 

I'm quite confused, yet at the same time I'm also quite content with my life. Should I do something to change things? I'm not likely to do much, just watching and listening to what's going on! LoL now this song words are "Hey hey hey hey, What's going on" so appropriate. I think this radio station is following my mind 😂.

We have company for dinner tonight, friends we camped with 8 of us be here, that we would have not been able to do in our fifth wheel, at least not all at the same table. Will be a fun I'm sure. I listen as Polly gives the tour, our friends the first couple have arrived, our new home is giving us much pleasure. 

Fortunate us to have found this new to us home at this time in our lives ❤️ 

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Sunday again! Day's and weeks flying by.

Foggy start to another beauty day 🌞😎

Being north this winter is a change from our usual winter, although it's really been nice catching up with family and friends that we just didn't get to see over the last many years. When we moved out of town to Ladysmith for work, then in retirement we only had a half year in BC, and even that is cut to visit in Grande Prairie, or other parts of Canada as we traveled. 

So being here in Port Alberni has been a really great time again, seeing people that we haven't seen for many years. I'm thinking it's kinda like a reunion every time we go to town 🤣, really. 

Today we are going to Courtenay for a visit with a friend that we met when we were in Newfoundland a few years ago. Winston helped us see that city of Saint John's just a little better than the tourists we were. During our time there we looked him up as his sister Cindy said he'd love to give us a tour of his hometown. He's come to the Island for a visit and looking after Cindy and Ray's house as they holiday south. 

Polly often talks of just how wonderful Winston was showing us around his home town, giving us a look at places that we would likely have never thought to go see. It will be nice to see Winston again, we got to know him quite well during our stay in Saint John's, I'm thinking we were there a month that time we visited. 

Our friends Americo and Claudette will join us, lunch at a pub with good friends, what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I hear the weather be sunny 😎 too, that'll be nice, Port Alberni has been basted in fog the last few days, be nice to see the sun 🌞 again. 

I woke this morning thinking of my little shop that I need to organize so I can start making things again. I have everything in it, and can move around, but it's really tight, I need to develop a good plan for where everything will be setup. Once I got up I started thinking how it will be, I'm soon to go out and move a few things around to begin with, just get an idea of how my work flow will work. 

When I had my tent setup at our campsite, I often used my mitre saw outside, with a cover on it so it didn't get wet when it rained, but here I'm trying to have it inside, ? Not sure that's going to work. I attached it to a plywood box I'd picked up last year when I bought a stand for the saw, but the stand that I thought would work out, was cumbersum, and heavy, so not really portable as I'd thought it would be. So now I'm experimenting with the idea of a stand on wheels, that I can expand as needed, and tucked away when not in use. 

I went to a site called SketchUp, going to try it, they have a Free tryout, but I feel like too much learning to get that right, I'm thinking paper, and pencil ✏️ be my best opinion, or just get in the shop and start moving stuff around. That's most likely what's going to happen. 

Anyway, I'm looking forward to building stuff again, that's my goal, not the planning, but the building. Planters again for spring, and I'm sure a few more things that I'm thinking of, benches, I have a few really big pieces of cedar that I've been hanging onto for 3 or more years, I'd really like to make something really nice out of them, as really clear red cedar, 2" thick, 7' long, and about 18" wide. I'm hoping this be the year I create something from these 3 pieces. 

When I started doing the woodworking I just had minimal access to wood, often using pallets to build, I still really like working with them too, but I have acquired many other pieces that I need to put to use, so I can collect something else. Sounds funny, but I do find myself looking at wood wherever I go, the kind, the grain, the beauty. Is it an obsession? I snicker, I'm thinking is LoL 🤣 

Anyway, here I sit early morning again, 7 am now, going to get my ass outta this seat, and go stand in my little shop and see what comes of my thoughts in there. Easier to imagine where what will go standing there. We leave at 10am, so not too much will get done, but I'm hoping I'll get the idea I've been searching for. 

Another great Sunday.

Sure do love our life ❤️ 

Sunday always a special day to me.

   Water was everywhere yesterday WOW 

I remember for many years as a young boy that Sunday was a special dinner, a roast usually, my Mom would make, sometimes with Yorkshire pudding 🍮, which really isn't pudding. Was a special time, a time we would be a family, and often friends be with us too.

At Christmas my mom when we were older had two men that we felt a part of our family come and stay with us during Christmas, one was Arnie, he was a guy from Naniamo, a Norwegian man, he was a typesetter for the naniamo free press that had no one to be with at Christmas, the other man was Mom's cousin Doug, and old fisherman from Ucluelet that also had no place at Christmas. Mom somehow took them in, and for the Christmas season we were all family. 

I don't think of them often now, but I do remember that feeling of family at Christmas and how it felt all being together. I also remember the feeling after Christmas, like now, how it felt when everyone left, a kinda sad feeling. 

This year I'm not really feeling that way, as we have lots to do in our new to us place, although I do miss the people we got to know in Florida at the Crooked Hook, along with the people we got to know in Yuma at both Fortuna and Sundance, the card room, many great laughs there. 

Funny, looking back the things ya remember, on a Sunday many times I'd stay at our friends overnight, a party of some kind with Americo & Claudette in Courtenay, I'd get up early, and off I'd go with my camera, a walk about to town, or to the park, always something to see. Having the camera gave me optunity to see it even better. 

Today I'm going for a walk about too, I'm not sure where yet, but it's Sunday, and so far it's not raining. But I'll likely bring an umbrella just in case lol. We have a dinner planned, some of our family, be nice to yak it up, maybe play cards, for sure be some goffing off. Just enjoying each other, on a Sunday 🤗.

Once in awhile I listen to a song by Kris Kristopherson, "Sunday morning coming down"  it's sad but comforting somehow. 

I think I'll listen to that today, just once! 

Maybe even on the TV, YouTube has most anything we can imagine available. 

Yep, another Sunday, love our life ❤️ 

A Waste of good material!

My thoughts as I flicked through my Pinterest page that comes up regularly saying "things you might like", well even though the sight caught my eye, I really dislike seeing wood wasted. A huge block of wood, with a major part cut out, to make a void for a light. 

I'm not sure why this project was sent as something I'd like, but yesterday I saw something on marketplace that really caught my eye, a lamp that can use pieces of what is call waste wood, as sometimes I have strips of cedar left over, always thinking what can I use it for? Well this I believe will be a project I can create. 

Using waste is not my only goal in creating a project, whatever it might be, but using something that otherwise would be discarded as waste, along with using something that doesn't cost anything to begin with, so many pieces of wood are real beautiful, yet discarded as too small, has knots, or some rot. 

So much can be created with leftovers pieces. Anyone can go to the lumber store, buy products that are complete shaped exactly, and new, straight, rot free, perfect. But I believe taking something that's inferior to many and creating, seeing the beauty in it as it is, is my talent. I can see the beauty in a less that perfect piece of wood. 

I'm no building carpenter, I'm not trained, except for my own life lessons, and of course YouTube instructions 🤫 of course we all have that on our side now. Mostly I get an idea, then I work to create it, in my fumbling way. This week it was a sliding garbage bin that fits under our sink. 

There were limitations under the sink that gave to me making it, rather than buying one. See the plumbing is ready low, and centered under the two sinks, so my limitations were 12"deep, cupboard width and 3" under the bottom of drain pipe. 

This is the side I choose to make it for, as the other side already has Polly's cleaning and dish washing stuff. Looks bigger than it is, only 12" deep, just big enough for our garbage container we already had. 

Seems like an easy job, but fitting it in was a trial and error thing, that caused many up and down stairs to my little unorganized shop. Still, it's done now, not perfect, but it works, and Polly is happy with it, shelf behind to contain the bags for the bin. 

I had the drawer slides, and all the bits of wood I had as well, and the tools to build it. I really like building with wood, but until my shop's setup properly, I'll be just doing the stuff here that needs to be done. 

As I go I'll continue to take screenshots of possible projects, knowing a time will come that I can and will be building more pleasing things, and most be with beautiful discarded pieces of wood 🪵.

We have friends coming for dinner tonight, Polly is in her element now, roast chicken, and I see chocolate pie with raspberries on top coming to our table 😋

Sure do love our mobile home life ❤️

Look what just was placed in my lap Mmm 😋 tastes just like chocolate pudding Mmm. More waste 😂