5C's Que Pasa

Yes a walk in our very own Holiday Park Resort.  The colors are so vibrant at this time of year.  With daytime highs of 14C and lows of -2C the colors are changing quickly.

On the way to the dog park we saw so many glorious colors.

I always look forward to this tree changing it's colors.

A very interesting gate through a hedge.

I think that an artist lives here.

This is the window above the easel. I have never ever seen anyone here. One day when I see a car I am going to be bold and knock on the door.

Such beauty in an old stump.

A sumac changing colors.

This tree used to be in our yard, the house we sold last April. The tree is so huge now that it would have been too big for the spot it was in. So glad we donated it to another site where we can still enjoy it's beauty.

Home sweet home. The new maple that we planted just this past spring. It surpasses our expectations for beauty and color.

It has been a glorious fall, full of riotous colors.  We are so fortunate to live here.

Tags: 319, garden, Holiday Park

The four days with my Dad passed in a blur.  I never recorded our time @ Costco where he finally figured how to use his new hearing aid, nor our trip to the bank to open a safety deposit box, nor the multitude of stops here and there for necessary purchases and about 10 other misc. stops over those days.  Mostly Dad sat in his van while I ran in and did the leg work.

We managed to go through all the boxes holding special memories. Things like Mom's grade school report cards, her University of Alberta graduating certificates and some papers, tons and tons of research materials. Most special where the newspaper cut outs that she had made notes on....."we must travel here", " I must buy this book", " we would lover listening to this music" plus she had cut out articles over 30 years ago about how she did not want to be kept in a nursing home. It was a very emotional experience. I learnt so much about the great woman that she was. We went thru telegrams from decades ago between her parents and very old photos and other memories. It was a heart wrenching four days.

I made a point of feeding Dad some great meals. I think I spoilt both him and the cat.

Angel was Mom's girl but she quickly become Dad's best girl.

I relentlessly went thru paperwork and saved Dad money here and there. But then I just as quickly spent it by making him sign up for a neck pendant emergency call system. If he wears it then the rest of us can relax and not worry about him living on his own.

My biggest project was the purchase of 20 feet of TV cable and a staple gun.

Colin assured me that I was capable of the task.  Maybe I am just a weakling but I needed 2 hands to pull the trigger of the staple gun which left me short of one hand to hold the cable.  I did get the job done and it took forever.

The object was to move the TV from the right of the bathroom doorway to the left so that Dad could lay in bed and watch all his sports games. Well you are looking at the final result. I stapled that TV cord all around the doorway and moved the TV and hooked it all up. Also this new space allows Dad to bring his walker right into the bedroom.

Sadly the TV did not work.  I asked Colin if the fact that I had stapled thru the TV cable several times would have any effect   🙄  I guess it did.  Boy did I screw up.  One of Dad’s neighbours bypassed my not so handy work and the system worked .  So hopefully my brother can get over there on the weekend and fix it all up.  Seems like I need to send over a fresh 20 feet of cable.  All I can say is that I did have good intentions but it was a stretch for me.

The other project I undertook was more successful. Late Sunday night Dad mentioned to me how much he had liked the lit tree he had seen at Costco on Saturday. Well, if he wanted one, I would be sure that he got one. We purchased it on Monday and I set it up while he/we watched the hockey game. I will admit that it took me several moments to figure out that those beige cardboard tubes had to slip off before I could insert the branches.

My mind was a tad tired after doing errands in the morning, a few more boxes to sort out, then the cable wire install then making us dinner and then the tree set up but I really wanted to get it completed.

Fortunately I was able to get Dad to be my photographer. Looking very very good, no not me, but the tree.

I love that tree. The next morning I half disassembled it and moved it outside onto the deck where I put it together once again.

Dad says he is really enjoying it.  I even managed to set it up on a timer so he just has to enjoy the beauty of the lights and not worry about any details. He can watch his sports and news and the tree at the same time.

I spent my final morning arranging for an alarm alert pendant to be worn around his neck.  Should something happen he only needs to push a button and help will come.  He fought me a bit on that one but as I mentioned earlier it allows me peace of mind to go away for the winter.

Once again special thanks to my classmate who picked me up at my Dad’s.  Not only did she entertain my Dad while I finished my to do’s for him but she brought him pumpkin pie, muffins and produce from her garden and her neighbours garden.  With little time to visit she still managed to deliver me to my Mazatlan/Edmonton Registered Massage Therapist for my decompression massage.  I was then picked up by yet another classmate who chauffeured me to the airport.  It was a great four days made even more special by all my friends who helped me out and of course our very special reunion evening ( yesterdays post ).

All was well until I took my seat on the plane and saw this out of the window.

It wasn't a dangling particple but a dangling piece of the aircraft????

They just screwed it in and we were off and yes I got home safely.

Being in Edmonton and then coming back here was difficult.  I was being pulled in different directions and it has been very difficult on me.  Tonight, Oct. 11th I am finally feeling more settled.  Thanks for bearing with me.

Tags: challenges, Family, food, travel

…and I haven’t had a moment to spare.  My trip was great and productive but tiring. Then once here I just had to do things like send out invoices as we need the money for our trip south, feed the family ( dogs included ), do laundry and deal with a few tiny but urgent issues.  Colin has resumed his 18 hour days and plans to continue at that pace until we head south.  He did take a few hours over the weekend to put our Mexican flower pots under the house and our patio furniture away.  Nice to have that job out of the way.  I also have to thank him for posting the 2 posts I had pre written before leaving.

Last Friday morning began with dawn reflecting over the lake. Not sure if you can see the mist in the background or the frost on the grass in the foreground.

While in Edmonton I had no internet.  Dad has my old iMac desktop and has internet with Shaw but someone  fixed his computer so all he can so is see my blog and get Google.  Not much I can do with that, not send an email or do a post.  Very frustrating but then I really had no time at all to be online.

My flight to Edmonton was almost delayed due to a Cessna crash. The Kelowna runway was actually shut down for a while as officials tended to the student pilot who fortunately only had minor injuries. Of larger concern was an oil spill. The plane looked crumpled beyond repair.

I was picked up at the airport in Edmonton by a friend from high school.  After a few stops for wine and appies we headed over to another classmates home for a party.

We started with wine and appies and more appies and much more vino. Two new classmates attended this get together and one who did come to our brunch the end of August could not get to this event.

It doesn’t look like a typical school reunion but then we were not a typical school.  We went to the Academie Assomption, a school run by the Sisters of the Assumption.  Some started as early as Grade 2 when the school was private but most here commenced in Grade 7 as I did when the school became part of the Edmonton School System.  The big pull was that it was a French school run by nuns.

Next time we get together there will likely be a few more faces.

Here we are at our grad in 1971. Don't we look fabulous?

We partied for several hours with some leaving after four hours but some of us stayed until 11 PM!  One of the girls lives near my Dad’s and drove me home.  I felt like I was back in high school sneaking in at midnight  😐  More tomorrow about my weekend in Edmonton.

I just received a few photos from last Friday evening and wanted to add them….

The thinkers that we were and still are.

A better camera results in a better group photo.

Tags: Edmonton, Family, friends, Kelowna, reunion, sunrise, vino

We have been asked by a few people to bring things down to Mexico for them.  For the most part we don’t mind if we have the space.  However this year we are overloaded.

~we have our massage table that is heavy and cumbersome.  It travels on the bed and then takes up space in the bedroom when we are stopped.

~we have Colin’s new inversion table that while still in the box is heavy and we have no idea where it will go.

~we are bringing a 4.40 CU.FT. compact fridge with us that weighs 77 LBS.  That will go in the car for transport.

~ we have to pick up our new 10′ X 10′ gazebo in the USA as ours blew away because of the winds from Hurricane Manuel.  It was one of four gazebos of that size, which fits our area, that I could find.  No one is making 10 X 10 this year.  It will be in a box but it is 80″ long by 20″ wide X 8″ high and weighs over 80 LBS.  Likely it will have to lay on it’s side on the floor of the RV and we will have to step over it all during the trip.

~I already have a suitcase of books and stuff for a special friend and now will be adding her juicer.

~this year I will be bringing own Healthmaster blender to make smoothies.

~ I already have 2 large garbage size bags of gently used  clothes for those in need on the Isla.

~we haven’t even thought of where we would put my 21 cases of vino blanco  😳

We are definitely overloaded.  Good thing we got new tires last year on the way home.  Other than the inversion table and the blender all these things will be staying on the Isla.  I hate to leave the massage table there but we just don’t have the space to travel with all this stuff year after year.

Already we are leaving my exercise machine behind, here in Kelowna, which we usually fit into the RV bedroom but enough is enough.  Having said that, if you need some spices or a few wee things like a camera filter,  I am happy to bring them.  Anything bigger than that, you will have to come up and find a place to pack it  🙄

Tags: Funny, Isla de la Piedra, travel

So the photos have been taken and are fabulous if I say so myself.

The writer we hired did a great job with his words. How do you describe an entry in 250 words.  For instance, in this section of the write up regarding the Master Suite he wrote…

Innovative Detailing – 70 words

This is big living in a small space!

This wonderfully cozy master suite is surrounded by windows features leaded glass doors and high-end finishing details.

A one-of-a-kind stain glass feature window adds natural light in the ensuite, while mirrors create the illusion of space.

Porcelain tiles, deep pile carpet, cherry cabinets, quartz countertops and the feature handcrafted vessel sink combine to add comfort and flair to this wonderful master suite.

The words and the photo work so well together.

I like this part about the Best Kitchen entry.

Functionality of floor plan – 101 words

You’re so close to the water, you feel like you’re on a yacht. But you have so much more space!

This custom designed, u-shape kitchen maximizes the space, creating a highly functional and open space. With plenty of room for two in the kitchen, and seating around the raised eating bar for five, the entire kitchen is tied to the living room and surrounded on two sides by floor to ceiling glass that looks al the way down the lake.

And for aging empty nesters, this kitchen is wheelchair accessible. It’s bright, open and social. Exactly what a kitchen should be!

We have to win some of these awards, don't you think?

So now we just have to finish up drawings of the site plan, the house plan, and do a line drawing of each category.  Once the monies are collected I will submit the entries online.  Next we have to bring in a CD in duplicate of the images for each category and then 4 copies of all the drawings and plans for each category, no later than October 15th.  All have to labelled  but with no reference to ourselves as the judging is done based solely on what photos are shown on the big screen while the submitted words are read aloud.  Even though we have to submit them, apparently sometimes the line drawings and plans are not even looked at.  It is a huge amount of work but we look forward to the outcome.  Wish we could be here for the Silver Award winners.  Who knows maybe Colin will fly back for the Gold Award ceremony on February 1st.

Tags: 319, Tommie awards