Sunday's muse Obituary for Bosco

Our pets who become part of our family often don't get an Obituary. This is one for our little boy Bosco. 

Bosco started out his life as our granddaughter Shayla's dog. He was born in September I'm told by my stepdaughter Catherine, and given to Shayla on her birthday September 6th, 2002. He was of good breading, Poodle/Shitzu. White with small patches of brown, and those little black eyes that saw all. His tail had the curl ➰ in it and his ears long haired looking.

When Shayla and family moved into a house that didn't allow dogs, she asked us if we would take Bosco until they were in a different house. Well how could we not, looking at the eyes of our 7 year old granddaughter 😊 

And so this 2 year old puppy came to us. He was scruffy, and a little unkempt as he had been living a bachelor life with Shayla's dad for a few months before he  came from Alberta to the island. A haircut and a trip to the vet were in order. At the salon he left a pile of hair, thanks Heather for grooming Bosco for so many years. 

At the vet he left something a little more memorable. 

Polly dropped him off and I picked him up. I told him it wasn't me, wasn't my idea. I'm sure he thought it was as every time we passed by that vet, he liked to take a wide pass at the front door, then gave me the look!

Bosco didn't like men at first when we got him, he was tramatized somehow. He would love up Polly, but I was shit. After a month or so, and a few good walks, he started to cotton to me. We became good friends as the walks became longer, and our lives became intertwined. 

Everywhere we went Bosco went, except to our work, he had to stay home. We made sure he was well taken care of, walked him, and made sure we went pee, or as Polly says "Did his business" before we left for work. 

My shifts were not constant then, so there was some adjustment, but Bosco did well. He didn't mess in the house, even if we were gone long, and he always had a big wag on his tail when we came home. He was a real lover.

I thought this might be hard, but it's helping me, good there's a box of kleenex close. 

If we went fishing to the cabin, Bosco went. In the water he went a few times, but we always retrieved him. Sometimes I had to grab Polly, while she went after Bosco. 

We lived in Ladysmith at the time, and Bosco like me got to know the town well. Walks were a daily thing, me with my camera, he was patient with me, and him with his smelling and peeing. Quite a couple we were. If I met someone and talked too long, he was always patient, unless another dog came along. 

At home he would curl up by me on the couch, or Polly in the recliner, he got used to our lives fast, and we did to him. One day we got a visit from Shayla, she had some important news for us, she said with a serious face, "Mom and I talked, and Bosco is happy here with you, so we've decided that he can stay. But he is still the families dog. Okay?" And that was it, not watching him for Shayla, he was ours, which we kinda thought anyway. He had been with us for about a year already. 

Kinda turning into a story hey! LoL well from then on we started buying a few things that helped Bosco, like a seat for the car, one he could be held in as he was all over the back seat, power windows up and down, and back and forth, and if I had to hit the brakes, he was going to be hurt. So we had a few different ones, but finally got one that fit good and he was harnessed in as we traveled, and sitting up high, where he could see all that was going on. LoL he did like to look around, snoopy he was. 

Not a regular kinda obituary, but he was not a regular dog, he was special, very special to us. There is much to say about Bosco, but I'll leave it like this, he was a loving dog, with a big heart, and huge attitude. 

In his final months, he was so different, still loving, but so different. It gave me a look at what old age is like. I'm not looking forward to this. Bosco always did us proud, and we love him alot. 

I'd like to thank the many people that helped us if we needed someone to watch Bosco when we left for awhile. Inge, Louise, Memere, Joy&Dan & many others. We only once brought him to a kennel and they took very good care of him for one night. 

September 2003-April 2021. RIP Bosco

Yes, I have been saying "Yes" more often.

   Planter's I made this week when asked

I have been consciencelesly saying yes more often lately to many requests that come my way. Giving a hand has always been in my wheelhouse, but making things, repairs and just stepping it up a bit has enriched my life. Not only do I meet people, but I get to know them at a deeper level as we share the experience. This is always a joy for me. 

Life can seem a rush at times, and our problems many have had before. When I say yes to whatever comes I learn to give my energy to others, and the talents I have get used, and of course I learn just a little more about myself. 

Polly has the same way, asked for a cake, cinnamon buns, or dinner, she creates with joy. I love that about her, amongst many other loving qualities Polly has. 

I just finished my 1st cup of coffee ☕ this morning, took a long while today. I layed back in the chair and counted my blessings. Well, not literally, but had that wonderful feeling of content. Not incontenent, which may come in future day's 😂 but that feeling that all is good, right, great at this time. 

Second cup is going down faster, light is coming now, rooster 🐔 is crowing, blinds need to be opened.

Done. The day is starting again. Yep, life is grand! 

What's today's + Plus, what will I create today. Oh yea, I promised to hook up a backup camera for someone, that will be my good deed done today. 

It's overcast, looks like fog above, not sure it will burn off, but whatever, will be a nice day and knew the weather was changing. 

Yesterday driving to town I felt the strong wind, and smell's of summer. April I said to myself, it's only April! Was a great run of warm with the tan started, and dust rolling through, I was thinking of traveling, but this year will be different I'm sure. 

My eyes are leaking this morning, not sure if allergies or emotion, I hate to take a pill so will blunder through. 

I started sighing yesterday morning, and examining my feelings. Good to look at what's here now. Writing is another thing I like now so much more that when in school, just a way of looking inside my head. I know I'm rambling, but I'm giving myself this gift to ramble. 

You get to laugh, I get to ramble.😀 

As the saying goes often now, "All's good!" 👍 😊 Love our life.

The beauty of Woodworking while traveling

We have not been traveling for awhile, and most RV type people have been grounded too. Last year when we returned from our summer traveling we went to our friends house and picked up or mail, as well as some of my woodworking tools. Thanks for storing them Americo, and thanks for keeping our mail Claudette. I didn't know then how that would make my winter shorter, and so much more interesting as we had to stay put, rather than head south. 

No regrets, South is nice, but if we have to stay put, let's enjoy what turns your crank. 

Wood is what I've been involved in with my job for most all my life, but working with it was something I knew I liked, but never took the time to really enjoy the whole love of creating beautiful wooden projects, until now. This winter I created many beautiful wooden projects. Some small, and some bigger. All with love, as well as the imperfections of a learning woodworker.

 

I belonged to a Union, IWA International Woodworker's of America. I was proud to be a member, and enjoyed working in the logging camp I did. Even in the rain, snow & heat, I did like working in the bush. After many changes and the logging camp closing down, I went to work in a sawmill, Chemainus sawmill. 

I learned about wood again, in a different way now. Much closer looking at wood here. The decisions we made here made $ for the company, and in return for us. I learned so much from so many people. Was a very good experience. Still I didn't really work with wood at home. 

A few small projects, but working and other obligations seemed to take priority. Now retirement gave me the time, but travel took priority, and I still love it. 

Being told to stay put gave me the time to really create something I never thought of before. 

I bought a few more tools, and small projects turned into bigger, and most with hand tools and some thought how to.

I have to thank my friend Andrew Schmidt for his help aquiring wood from a mill close, ods and sods, leftovers that were to be discarded. Before he cut them up for firewood he let me pick though and I got a good supply. Most was too wet to use right away, by a few pieces he gave me were dry, and I could use right away. Gave me a good source to use. 

I still have a few thick, clear pieces of red cedar left, will creat a table out of them, not sure where I'll use it yet. And a few beautiful pieces of yellow cedar that I will make something out of. But also in all this wood, and the time to create has been a gift. As well as a campsite that allows me to make what I do in my shop/tent. 

       Bosco was helping me this day 😉

Not much of a shop, but enough for me to stay dry, and dry my lumber so in spring I can make the final projects. The next few weeks I will be working hard to get the final wood pieces used up, and enjoy the creation process. 

Sometimes it takes me a long time before I start on what I want, but the final results are just what I wanted when completed. 

As I am using up the wood, we are planning our exit to the north in June. Will it work out? Who knows, but right now we plan, and see how the next couple months go. Planning is good, not all we can realize, but making the plan is part of the fun. 😊

Loving our Life here at Arrowvale. 🤗❤️

Polly's booked 💉me next 💉

What to say, we thought maybe wait and see what comes of vaccinations. But after seeing the future with cards being issued and governments already saying they will be required to travel Polly &I agree, we have to get the 💉 shot. 

I read a post the other day that did help me with my thinking. "We have no bomb's dropping" was the statement. It helps me realize we are fortunate to be only restricted, not at war. Even with restrictions, we have been able to do and enjoy many things, just not as many friendships as before. 

Looking forward to travel this summer, not sure how far we will go, but to visit our son and daughter in-law to be in Grande Prairie as a baby will be coming. Alaska and the Yukon is in our sights, but not looking like things will open till after summer. Won't hurt us too bad to stay put awhile longer. 

Rain day today changes plans to a stay put day, and maybe a little grocery shopping for Polly. Blosoms are out all around us and daffodils are blooming now. Soon leaves will be thick and our satellite TV channels will disapeer as the maple tree leaves in front of our trailer. 

Shall we move? We could, but likely stay put till travel day comes. 

We plan to leave in June, but could change as time goes. Just never know what comes next. 

Something's I know I can count on. Polly will continue to bake, 

cook new recipes.

I will continue to make new wood projects.

We will always climb into bed at night close to the same time, and getup at different times. Our love will continue to grow, and our Children, Grandchildren and sometime Great Grandchildren will enjoy a different life than us. 

We are fortunate to have lived through a somewhat peaceful time in history. Peaceful in our country, Canada. Lucky we are, in so many ways. 

Love our life here at Arrowvale, ❤️ and many other places as we travel. 

Our world 🌍 Will it right itself?

I read a post today on FB about a logging trailer reload at a logging camp getting tore down. I thought 🤔 I remember when it was built.

 This brought about so many thoughts. I remember picket lines demanding better wages and working conditions, picket signs, and fighting with the company. Looking back, That was when we had a good company to work for. 

Now as I look back from this time in my life I think will our world change for the better, will it right itself? I see our way of life, western world or first world as some say, slowly eroding? Will the world become all third world? Will there ever be a level playing field? Or will we regress to a world fighting for scraps at every corner?

Well as far as I see, which in the course of the world is not too far off, it's not a worry to me. I'll appreciate my last part of my life best I can, and the rest will be what it becomes. 

My thoughts go to my Children and Grandchildren, and next, Great Grandchildren. And life goes on. 🙂

We, Polly & I have just about relinquished all of our assets, our holdings in life. House, furniture, dishes, tools (I have been adding to these lately) 🤔😊 almost all done, cabin share will be done soon, then we have our truck and trailer as our only tangible big assets. Moving forward we have all our ducks 🦆🦆🦆 lined up. We are ready to travel with less worry about things at home, as we take our last few things with us. 

Covid is still here, so planning is kinda hard, but we plan to possibly, maybe, move along this June. North, and east if okay. Truck needs a few touch ups, trailer in for check-up before, and off we will go. 

Shots? 💉💉 Looking like no choice right now, have to have em if we want to travel.

Choices are limited in what shot you get, just take what's given. Never before have we ever had a choice, so what does it matter now. No notice yet that we are in line, so wait as many others do. All will be good, we are okay here for now. 

Arrowvale Campground has been very good for us, rooster 🐓 just crowed again, bull moos, donkeys will hee haw soon, eagles will screech, love the sounds as the farm wakes up. We have been very comfortable here, and will come back again sure. 

So what of our way of life? Well as I see it now, we, Polly and I have some of the last of the easy street kinda life. We did work hard and lots to get what we got, but nothing like the next generations will have to. Can you imagine buying a 🏠 home now at over $500,000.00 shit! That's alot of zero's. I shake my head. And prices looking to continue to go up. 

For us we thought maybe a retirement home, but after this Covid I'm not thinking of it anymore. No lock up for us. Free and fun days, that's our future I'm thinking. Well until we absolutely can't. Then, well not to worry, deal with that when it comes. 

Living for the moment, with light, unsure planning for the future. That's our way for today. 😊 Loving our Life ❤️

The Zen of Woodworking 😊 Knowing myself just a little better every day

             Shelf built from a pallet

I have been developing my woodworking talents for awhile now, youtube has helped immensely. 

Just yesterday I realized something I learned about me before, just had to see it again. I like to "Git er done!" Rather that finesse at something. I knew this, but have to re-learn it every once in awhile. When I started out with the woodwork this last while I dreamed of an epoxy and wood table, sure I could do it, I still might, but that perfection is not what I like. I like to get whatever I'm doing done and in use, and learn a better way each time I do it. 

Years ago I read a book called Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance. It is about self examination, and I learned the ways I do this. Today I am still developing a good look at me. 😂 

Perfection is often a goal, and the way to atain it is often overlooked. I love to work with wood, and that is my enjoyment. My goal is not perfection, but enjoyment in the process of creating. 

I see the beauty in wood right down to it's growth, the structure, the grain, the variants in its beauty. I like it's differences, not just strait grain. 

I also like to see people happy, so when I create something from wood, I'm passing on my love and happiness to them. They enjoy it, and are happy, that in turn makes me 😊 happy. 

Sounds kina sukky when I read it back to myself, but is the way it is. 

No matter what you do, this is likely the motivation, you do what you love, and pass on that love in your creations. Simple hey. I wonder why 🤔 we still fuss about the small things in life? 

My head might be buried in the sand, but I watch less news, and spend more time being creative now than ever, and surprise, I'm happier. Simple, gee I don't know, but it's working for me. 

Life's good here with lot's of wood, at Arrowvale Campground ❤️🤗

Awnings are dangerous, awnings with snow load are even more dangerous 👍

Looking kinda inocent now, but at 2:30am, when I looked out the door and saw the snow belly on our awning my first thought was, Gotta get that snow off there or with more rain it will buckle the awning. 

Well I just didn't think it through. I reached my hand out and gave the awning support rod a little tug 😳

Holly shit, that was fast! The awning came down, the rod came right up against the trailer into the chanel that's mounted to the trailer, and pinched my thumb with a huge bang💥 I pulled my thumb out, back in the trailer I went, sure I had cut my thumb off, then sure it was broken. Ouch the pain, a few explaiatives, first examine it, more of this #@+#&#,  then paper towel to catch the blood, then pressure to help with the pain. 

Whooeeeff, holly crap, that hurt. Still got my thumb, and looking like I can still move it, so likely not broken. After a few minutes, I take another look and bleeding has slowed, time for a band-aid. Then giter done. Go out and get the snow off the awning now. Determined I am. Never give up on a good 💡 idea. 😂🤣🤣

I get the broom and push up on the big belly formed I the middle of the awning. Out comes the wet slushy snow. Oh yea this had to be done, or would have collapsed for sure. So I get all I can out of the one side as the support is up against the trailer so the awning is like a shoot ready to spit out the snow with a little proding from me and the broom. 

Looking at the other end, support rods were still straight out, and not letting the snow fall out. So with all my recent knowledge I thought 🤔 got to get that snow outta there, and took the broom and gave the support rod a shove, well again 💥 that  happened fast, and the rod didn't fare as well as the other side, it broke the ears off the small rod support.  

Is hard in the light now to remember just how much snow there was, and just how heavy it must have been, it crashed on the side of the trailer and woke Polly out of her sleep 😴 😳 with a start. 

Well it broke the support, but no damage to the trailer, and I then got all the wet heavy snow off the awning. Goal achieved in a wreckless way. 

I stayed up till 6am, thumb throbbing, but on its way to healing. What an education that was. Looking back I'm lucky I only go a crunched thumb, and a broken support rod, this could have been much worse. 

Awnings have always been a contentious issue for me, as I have seen the problems others have had. Wind is the usual problem, and when it's Windy I pull them in. But possible snow just didn't hit me as it was going to cause a problem. I was so wrong, a light dusting maybe, but the westcoast wet rain soaked snow, even a small amount was a huge problem. 

Thinking I'm lucky now may seem funny, but it could have been much worse, I got to learn a lesson with no long term injury, well I'll loose a nail for sure, but that's like nothing to a broken arm, or crushed under the snow load and broken neck. Yep, it could have been much worse. 

Next day I wonder in the sun, if I'll be able to get a part to repair that. So after looking at it on and off for the morning I say to Polly, Wana go for a drive with me? I can tell Polly's like, naww, but I talk her into a drive to get propane she forgot yesterday in her run to town, and ask at Arbutus RV in Port Alberni if they had the part. 

That was a runaround, the parts lady said after going into the back they had them, just needed the exact length. So I say I'll call her back with the length when I get home, and I take off. We got Propane, and some information. Oh yea, and we got to drive around for awhile 😂😂. An outing together is an outing during covid 🤣🤣.

I get home and measure and call back, tell her the length, and she says she'll check and call me back. 

Well that didn't happen, so I call back next day, and excuses came, but she put me on hold, and not sure what was next but after. Couple mins, I hang up. 

Polly says, call Parksville where we bought it, maybe they have it. So I call, and parts guy there says need all vin. Numbers and info, but that they only sell the whole unit. I'm, what? Yes he says, they don't sell parts for them, they sell the whole thing. 

Well I thank him, I now know what direction I am going, I'ma gonna make this thing myself. 

Later that day the parts lady here in Port calls, says they don't have it, but she could get a price for me on one. I say yup, that would be good. Thanks. I hang up thinking, will she actually call with a price?

Next day I hear forecast for wind, so let's bring in the awning best we can. I get Polly on the switch, and we manage to get it in and some heavy wood against it as the shock keeps pushing out. This holds, but I'm not happy to just leave it, so later yesterday I just had to take it apart, and get the tube off, then will repair today and reinstall. Fixed I'm thinking. 

Either way awning is up, and all weather can come, and no more damage can happen with the awning for now.

Kind of a long story, but yesterday when I went to have a shower and took the band-aid off, I got a good look at my thumb, yep I'm lucky, and yes I'm going to loose the nail. Small price to pay to learn a huge lesson. 

Still looking at the rod sticker that says it all. 🧐 Hmm  🤔 

Not sure that's correct as I did that, and the consequences were painful. 😂

All's good as people say, I live to fight another day, just not with an awning. Awnings in when weather changes from now on. That's my new motto. Lol

Ahh life is good, if you don't let it beat you.😁 Loving life ♥️ here at Arrowvale Campground