5C's Que Pasa

Colin has been mentioning this addition for at least 18 years and finally it came together.

He bought a 'canoe'.

It is a 16′ Huron cedar and canvas canoe.  It was built in the late 50’s and has been refurbished including new canvas and varnish.  The stars were aligned when Colin caught sight of this beauty for sale and a deal was made.  It was delivered to us a few weeks ago.  My eyes were so bad then that I could not post about this new addition.  The canoe actually fits under the house.  Perfect fit.  The kayaks are under the house on the left of this shot.

It really is a beauty.

That is a chair that the fellow makes to make it easier for old people like me to sit in.  This one was too fancy for us.

Caeli already has her spot figured out. We did buy the plain cedar chair shown in the canoe. I think it will be easier on me in the long run.

The canoe is very heavy ( well to me it is ) to lift but Colin says that he can do it on his own.  The challenge will be to get it down our steps to the beach and into the water.

It looks brand new.

We will also be able to put a trolling motor on it, allowing us a leisurely tour around the lake.  Now we have a choice to use our kayaks or the canoe.  Colin is also looking forward to paddling on his own as he used to do many many years ago before Contessa.  Sadly we haven’t yet had a chance to put it into the lake but soon I hope.

First of all for the first time in 27 years we had rain on our anniversary.

Not a lot but it was wet.

If anyone is looking for a smooth, unoaked chardonnay, I highly recommend this one. It was a thank you gift from someone a year ago and I'm so glad I saved it for a special occasion.

I met with my eye MD yesterday ( yes she is open on Saturdays ) and it seems that there is some improvement but the problem remains.  So I will continue with the steroid eye drops for another week and then start tapering off.  She says that I am the first patient she has ever had who has not been cured within two weeks.  I’ll be seeing her again in three weeks.

I had been back home less than ten minutes when out of the corner of my eye I saw a car stop out front.  Then the horn sounded a few times.  I went over to the window and my mouth popped open as I saw a very familiar face coming out of the back seat.  I didn’t recognize the driver but certainly the passenger and then suddenly there was her husband.

It was Barb and Don who were staying with a friend in the area.

Barb and Don have RVed at Tres Amigos on the Isla for years and years until a few years ago.  Now they fly into Mazatlan for a few weeks and come over the to Isla to visit with those of us still there.  They live in Ontario ( close to Toronto I think ) and have recently purchased a 27′ Class C Winnebago View and are on a bit of a tour of Canada and the US.  They flew to Edmonton to pick it up ( their kids drove it there from Ontario and flew back ) and will do some visiting with friends along the way.  We were one of the first they stopped to see and what a surprise it was.  They have been reading my blog from day one so were familiar with what was happening in our lives.  We had a whirlwind visit and a quick tour of our new home.  It really was a whirlwind of a day, look at my hair blowing in the breeze.

We had wind gusts up to 60km/h all afternoon. Leaves and debris were flying. There was one tree that we know of here in the park that snapped off.

Of course we were all concerned about the wind fanning the fire but the helicopters and ground crew kept it under control and today some of those evacuated are being allowed to return home but will remain on evacuation alert.

We aren’t exactly celebrating.  We were going do a few things but other priorities have come along, like working.

Colin is still glued to his computer completing the photoshop work from all of his aerial photography. We keep getting calls from clients wanting their photos.

I'm no better, catching up on yesterday's to do list because we were away so long yesterday.

I have a lovely wild sockeye salmon fillet to BBQ tonight and 2 bottles of wine cooling in the fridge.  Likely we’ll catch a movie on TV.  Can’t think of anything I’d rather do than stay home and relax.  Colin should be caught up by next week and we’ll take a day off and perhaps do the few things I had originally planned for today.  Don’t feel sorry for us, as this is what allows us to spend 5 months on the beach in Mazatlan each winter, where we do nothing but relax and play everyday.

It’s only 29C today and there is a strong breeze so we haven’t had the A/C on since about 8AM.  We slept with it on again last night because of the smoke.  There is still smoke today but the wind helps and I just needed to have ‘fresh’ air.  Neither of us are fond of using A/C unless really necessary.

Sadly that wind is whipping up the fire in West Kelowna but fortunately it is remaining within the fire retardant lines but it did grow to 400 hectares overnight.  Firefighters have been flown in from Nova Scotia, Quebec and I think Manitoba.  Fire trucks are coming from Kamloops and Big White to help.  Meanwhile the fire is being fought with water bombers, float planes specially designed to hold water and dart in closely to dump their load plus a slew of bucket carrying helicopters ( that rent out at $1000.00/hour ) plus fire fighters on the ground.  Fellow blogger Rod has further information on his post today.  He now has his 5th wheel loaded and ready to flee should it become necessary.

My good news today is that I did get a full refund from BMW on what I consider non existent work yesterday and poor coordination.  Enough said.  So this is what we used to look like.

Time does have a way of changing us.

The title of the hit song by The Platters “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” doesn’t even cover it.  We were forced to leave the A/C on all night because the smoke smell was too strong.  Then there was the power outage sometime during the night.  Whatever the explosion was, it shut down all the gas stations in Lake Country.  I was just a tad under 1/4 tank and we were taking both cars into Kelowna.  Did I mention that our vehicles has a fine layer of ash over them?

Our plan was for a 5 hour day maximum, doing various errands, etc.  Due to incompetence of certain companies it ended up being a 10 hour day.  We had brought the girls with us and they did so well and never complained once. For them it was an adventure, going in and out of a few professional offices and stores and new sniffs to smell when we stopped to let them do their business.  I’m sure that they are going to sleep for the next 12 hours.  Things got pretty stressful at BMW this afternoon, where my car had been since 8:30AM.  I paid a bill that got me nothing!!  Enough said that we will be calling BMW Canada tomorrow.

Meanwhile not 1, not 2 but 4 new fires started today.  One which we could see this afternoon, while in downtown Kelowna, it is horrific.  It is a Rank 5, the worst possible.  So far it has burned one home that we know of and suddenly over 1500 people are on immediate evacuation notice, no time to pack anything, just run for your lives.  This fire is burning on the West Side of Kelowna.   Colin says that the areas being evacuated are mostly new homes in the $500,000.00 to $800,000.00 price range.  We have friends whose home burned two years ago and they have been put through the wringer to prove everything to the insurance company in order to recover any money.  Who has copies of receipts of things purchased in your home, all the items?  Copies that are stored outside of your home. They had less then 5 minutes to get out, they lost everything including their computer with all their information, both personal & business.  They are still fighting to get what should be theirs.  Guess what we are doing this weekend?  That’s right, taking photos of all we own as well as the documentation.

So today, thus far, four new fires have started  and the valley is once again filled with smoke.  On the way back home from Kelowna to our oasis ( in the smoke ) we saw 2 accidents.  Fairly bad!

I’m done.  What a stressful day!  Best part of the day was that I lost 2 lbs this week when I weighed in at  Weight Watchers this morning.

It is certainly a mucho mas vino night!  Might gain a few ounces.

I am concerned for fellow bloggers Rod & Sylvia who are right there.  Sorry to Marty in Montana who is dealing with our smoke.  As of 10 minutes ago….

How hot is it out there?

Ask my plants. First it was too wet and suddenly it was scorching. Pretty much ready for the compost pile.

After my rant yesterday I have given up on keeping up with the fires and which human started which fire.  Suffice to say that things are not much better.  Over a thousand people are being evacuated without any notice at all.  Just south of our border, the US is dealing with fires in Washington, Oregon and California. My sister who lives in Edmonton, Alberta mentioned how the smoke was becoming an issue.

...and now we have an RV that caught fire and burned itself to destruction.

I’m just going to stay here inside my little house on the lake and live in the cool of air conditioning.  So many people don’t have the option of A/C.  I spoke to a courier that came to the house today, he mentioned that he has no A/C in his truck.  That must be tough.  However when I went out in the golf cart late this afternoon in the 100F heat with the wind blowing like a red hot oven, to mail some business correspondence, I couldn’t help but notice the number of people actually lying out in those conditions, suntanning.  I guess I have become a wimp.  I just wanted to get back to the comfort of my house.

My eye must be somewhat better despite bothering me so much last Monday. I could not use the computer.  Just 2 days later I’m doing blog posts and managed to get a bunch of business work completed on the computer today.  Maybe those eye drops and gels are finally kicking in.  I am looking forward to my appointment on Saturday to see if those cells are starting to regenerate.

Carmeh is Colin's girl. She sleeps next to him at night and when he is gone during the day she sits at the window waiting. Today he came home earlier than expected but had some computer work to do. She tried to get him to play with her, to hold her, to do anything with her. Finally she gave up and went to sleep right next to him.

If you pay $200.00 more than I did for my Canon SX280 you get this case along with a tripod and a memory card. You can't buy the case separately. I know, I really really tried.

Somehow in all my online research I found this leather case for sale in where else but China.

These photos come from the internet as I can’t take a photo and use my camera as a model at the same time.  The case was delivered to me within 10 days of ordering.  I was very skeptical to place the order but for $9.18 US how could I go wrong?  No duty nor extra taxes were paid.  This just might be the best deal I have ever managed to purchase My only disappointment is that the red case that matches my camera is no longer available.  So many options on how to use the case, the cover off or just leave it all together and snap your photo or half on and off like the last shot.  I just have to remember to tilt the camera a certain way within the leather case so that the lense is able to fully extend or the camera shuts down.

My lovely family 🙂 This is the first time that Caeli has joined us on our teal chairs.

After Colin got up they cuddled together. Just as I took the shot Carmeh raised her head, otherwise it would have been a perfect shot.

Enjoy tomorrow wherever you are and whatever you are doing.  Life is short so make the most of each day.