5C's Que Pasa

A brief update on my eye, it is really no better.  I have been able to pinpoint that using the computer is what creates the pain.  I’ve tried keeping the blind behind the computer closed and even wearing sunglasses but it does not help.  I can read and watch TV with no problem.  I use the computer a lot during the day, I have never timed it but I’m sure I can be on it up to six hours or more.  If I only use the computer for a few moments I am fine.  So for the past several days in order to keep computer use to a minimum, I’ve put the blog and most blog reading and commenting aside and concentrated on dealing with our  business priorities.  However frequent breaks are the only way to cope and even some days I can’t work at all. Due to the holiday weekend I will be unable to contact my eye doctor until Wednesday to find out what the next step will be.  Poor Colin put up with my new hip all last summer and now this.  At least I’m getting the invoices out.  Bottom line is that if I don’t use the computer at all, ( I did that for a full 24 hours ) my eye is fine.  Time is a great healer but somehow I have to work out a compromise.  I’m posting this by taking many breaks which is not practical for the future.   One day at a time.

Now onto the home invasion.  A few days ago early in the morning I was checking the news and the weather on the computer ( of course ) when out of the corner of my eye I noticed a something moving on the lawn and then it stopped and just looked at me through the window.  By the time I jumped up and got my camera it had moved away from the front steps.

I looked over to the back steps and saw something at the door, trying to get it. I was too surprised to get a better shot.

...and there it was at the doggie door. Thank goodness the patio door was closed.

This is what the critter looked like. Gopher photo courtesy of the internet.

The girls were still sleeping but caught the excitement in my voice as I called to Colin to come and "look", a word they know well. By the time I moved to the patio door the girls were at my heels barking at the top of their lungs. The gopher turned and jumped down between the landing and the glass rail and scampered off. It was raining out ( and still is ), perhaps he wanted to come in and get warm.

I let the girls out and they immediately found where he had exited the yard. We have a 3' mesh screen that the hedge has grown over ( which is why you can't see it ) so the girls can't get out of the yard.

They quickly picked up the scent.

It was pouring rain and they just kept following the scent and refused to come in.

Finally they came in and got dried off. Some of you will know that doxies don't like being out in the rain but this was too much of an adventure for these hounds to pass up.

It was a challenge to get them to come and eat breakfast. Minutes later they took up their lookout positions. They stayed there for over and hour and later when the rain stopped they kept up the search in the yard.

Yesterday while Colin was out doing a shoot, I suddenly realized that I only had one dog.  I called and called for Caeli even offering the favorite bribe of all, ‘cookies’!  No dog.  Meanwhile the wind had started to pick up and the rain started, yet again. In a panic I called Colin.  Of course he couldn’t help me but I felt better that he knew she was missing.  I was just about to call security here in the park when I remembered that she used to go visit Robert & Michele, so I called them instead and sure enough she was there.  They brought her back once the rain stopped.  Later both Colin and I checked the perimeter of the yard and could find no escape route.

Then just an hour ago, as the rain started really coming down ( yes it’s still raining ) as in cats & dogs I again did a head count and Caeli was missing.  The thing is, is that I has seen her in her bed just a few minutes earlier.  There was a loud crack of thunder and I had gone to check on Carmeh and then discovered that Caeli was missing.  Both Colin and I searched the house and the yard.  She wasn’t here.  We called Robert & Michele and they were not home.

By now it was a torrential downpour and so loud on the roof that we could hardly hear each other over the din. Look at the water coming down the rain chain.

Colin got his raincoat on and headed out to find our baby.  Once again I was in a panic, mostly because it was so nasty outside.

He found her coming home from up the block, not the direction she usually goes.

She was so wet and cold. We put her in a warm tub to bathe her and heat her.

So it is obvious that she has an escape route which we have to find pronto.  If the rain ever stops (sigh ) the plan is for me to go out of the yard and call for her to come and get some cookies.  Meanwhile Colin will be observing her and discover the hole in our totally fenced in yard. The only time the girls have escaped has been because of someone leaving the gate open or a worker opening a gap in the fence and forgetting to close it.  I am beginning to wonder if the gopher might have chewed a hole in the plastic mesh.  That will be the first place we check  😐

…I am unable to do a post tonight.  My eye is really sore and I need a break from the computer.

Yesterday was a fab day with a high of 32C, we even had to turn on the A/C.  Today it rained until 6PM, so cold this morning that we considered turning on the fireplace, but didn’t.

Colin was photographing a very modern home last week and took this video for me to see.  I love the concept.  It is certainly something I would like to incorporate in our home.  Not sure if it’s possible.  Likely it would be too expensive as we have hardwood flooring.

The video is only 44 seconds and worth a look.

Can you image how much this would improve my view?

Guess I better go buy a lottery ticket.  Or perhaps I should check with with Bob over at The Caretaker Chronicles.  He’s a true handyman.

I would love to have the TV retract into the floor.

Today has been fabulous, sunshine and blue sky with a few puffy clouds.  Good enough for Colin to get some work done, finally.  Here I am at 4:00PM with a tiny breeze off the lake and a glorious 24C/75F.  Happy first day of summer.  Colin will won’t be back till after 10PM and and will be gone first thing tomorrow.

Last night was not so nice weatherwise so we were able to have what we called the perfect evening.  I had picked up yet another fillet of Copper River Salmon so that was first on the agenda, along with some red potatoes that we precooked in the microwave for 4 minutes and then wrapped in foil and put in the Weber.  The potatoes were good but we are still looking for the perfect BBQ potato.  Ideas please.  Along with that we had BBQ’d asparagus and an onion and I steamed some very tiny green beans that were delicious.  Dinner was exceptional and so was Colin’s Shiraz by Naked Grape.  After opening, it mellowed to a very smooth taste that even I enjoyed.  However I stuck with my Naked Grape Pinot Grigio.

Colin had a ceaser salad with grape tomatoes on top. I knew I would not be able eat salad along with everything else so I didn't prepare one for myself.

We ate in our recliners and watched a movie, something we rarely do based on time or me falling asleep.  Colin had taped a wonderful drama, Captain Phillips, filmed in 2013, starring Tom Hanks and other fabulous fellows.  It was based on a true story.  The dinner was awesome and the movie so captivating that I did not fall asleep.  It was one of the best movies we have seen in a while, an interesting study of character.

As soon as we put our forks down the girls lined up for a handout.

Earlier yesterday I increased Colin’s computer ram from 4GB to 20GB.

With all his new programs and huge files from the new camera he was getting bogged down.

Happy to say that it made a big difference speed wise.

Found this interesting creature on the front steps the other day. Anyone know what it is?

Our family of ducks have shrunk in numbers but are growing in size.

I find it interesting that both parents in the goose family stay with the young but in the duck family, just the mom.

Our new maple is putting out these lovely seed pods. A soft color now that will become a deep red over the next few months.

That’s about it for today other than my eye is slightly better.  Sadly that is because I stayed off the computer today.  Hopefully once it heals I won’t be bothered when using the computer.  One day at a time.  Happy first day of summer everyone.  I’m off to enjoy a glass of wine with a book, in the sun, of course.

Happy hour is back in the province of B.C.  We were the only province in all of Canada that did not allow licensed bars and restaurants to change their prices during the course of a day, hence no happy hour.  Today a new liquor law took effect and for the first time ever, happy hours will be allowed in B.C.

This a perfect time to make the announcement with tourism in full swing here in B.C. I’m certain that this will make a huge difference to the coffers of many pubs, bars and restaurants.  Who knows I may venture out once or twice to check out a few places in town.  Knowing me, I’m likely to just stay here at home and enjoy my….

Happy Friday and Happy Hour everyone  😎