A Day in La Conner, WA

Thursday Jan 26, spent the day with my neighbor Else in La Conner, WA.  We really like day trips and Else seems to know all the good places to go!
I had heard of La Conner as the place with the quilt Museum . . . she didn't have to ask twice!!

We had lunch at the pub on the waterfront, then walked up and down the "promenade" much like one would do in Vegas!  Up one side and down the other.

The town is quaint and touristy, although it is still officially winter so things are a bit quieter.  It is also very artsy with lots of galleries and shops with amazing and unique gifts, jewellery & furniture.  

There was a yarn & wool shop that would have Judy Stiles drooling!  Even I was drooling and I'm not a knitter!!

We had a lovely day of sunshine and warmish temperatures.  Sunglasses were needed.

 The quilt museum is housed in an historical site, (it is not wheel chair friendly!) found us climbing the stairs to the three floors, where the quilters have special showings roughly for 3 months at a time.  

Abstract Quilts in Solids
by Gwen Marsden

Jan 5 - March 26

Three groupings were on display today, which means that we will have to return to see what else is new in the days ahead!

The Nature of Place
Charlotte Bird & Ree Nancarrow
ends Jan 29th

First Floor Main Gallery
Sharon Tucker
Improv Inspiration
Jan 4 - Feb 26

What a lovely day we had . . .

Heartbreak & Grief

Sounds like a sad subject doesn't it?  However, personally I love it when new information comes to me.  It's as if I get an electrical charge!  Learning does that to me!!

 Recently I can across a FB video where the woman explained that heartbreak is the time to examine myself as it actually opens the heart.  It reveals the "crap" in me.  No other word for it.  The ugliness that we all have hidden deep inside finds a way out when the heart cracks open.  It reveals the patterns in my life that caused that person to want to leave.  It doesn't feel like the path to take at the time, but there really is no other way.

Grief naturally follows loss and was explained to me as an "irrecoverable loss where I am estranged from myself".  Normal things that brought me comfort & a feeling of security in my life are at once foreign & strange.
When you lose someone you love, 
you are longing for the reassurance they gave you, and longing for something you've lost in yourself:

the way they saw you, 
the way they felt about you, 
the way you understood yourself when you were with them.

No wonder I felt completely lost!  Everything in my life changed.  Not only was I losing my spouse of 35 years, but my family, my home, my job, my province.  Was there anything left of me?
The heartbreak was cracking my existence open, firstly to let the garbage out, but also to let the sun shine in!  To shine the light on who I really was deep inside.  I had to take the time to "find myself" and embrace who I had been all along.  

The good news is, I found her!  I love who I am!  I've become who I was meant to be! My goal now is to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be.

Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans

A few days ago, a friend from AB posted a FB link which I found so interesting . . . a whole group of young people VERY proud of their heritage, agreed to have their DNA tested and evaluated for their cultural roots. Shocking DNA Results (I've seen this done on Finding Your Roots, PBS) 
 God has a sense of humor, I tell you!  These youngsters found out that there is no such thing  as a PURE race . . . we are all mongrels!

Which brings me to discuss the Dating Pool on the West Coast . . . hehehe!  Kind of like  Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans!!

Let me preface this by saying that I discovered that I'm not really looking for a man, just a dancing partner.  In fact, the perfect man would even love to take lessons!  (Try and find one of those!!) In the meantime, I intend to have a lot of fun!
My descriptions will be of the brave souls who risked their toes and their balance by asking me to dance!  First there came The Turk.  Quiet & kind which leaves one to fill in the blanks as to character . . . he wanted a different kind of dancing.  Too bad.
Then a couple of brief numbers with Latino Man, who clearly loved to dance. Also Sailing Dude . . . he was English, posh, rich & loved to sail competitively. However he danced to the beat of his own drum if you get my drift.
More recently, it was  Yada Yada Argentina. He needs a hip replacement!  That will put his dancing skills out of commission for a time, but not his yada yada. He also said he'd love to teach me to Tango . . .    never  going to happen!
 I have learned that Irishmen can talk for hours about nothing and thought perhaps I should hold out for one of those.   So I had to giggle when I met Mr Dublin at the Rec center and in the space of 5 minutes learned all about him, his Baja training,  his injuries and more!  This guy would suit . . . . except he is WAY too young.  Ah well, my Grampies will have to dance with me in the meantime . . . .

More Unforgettable People

Saturday I reconnected with a really old friend from my early teenage years!  We were 13 and 14 when we met.  I was very close with her family, who ended up moving 3 years later, but we wrote letters back & forth for years!

I was her bridesmaid when she got married in 1975, and we stayed in touch years afterwards.  She & her family had moved to the West Coast in the 1990's when Jon's dad entered a care home.  
We met up for coffee in 2001 when my daughter & I were visiting my Mom, who had recently moved to the Lower Mainland as well!





I think it was only in the last 6 years or so that we lost touch . .  one too many moves and my Christmas card/letter was returned.  So when I myself moved out here, I found her FB page, but also noted that she hadn't posted for quite a while.  I PM'd her and waited . . . . until last Friday night when she contacted me!  We met for coffee on Saturday, catching up on all our family news. 

Isn't it wonderful how you can be apart for years then when you get to chatting again it seems like ten minutes?

I really sensed that she wanted a heart-to-heart friend and boy am I excited about that! 
 

Unforgettable People

A long time ago when I was working at Pembina Lodge in Westlock, a resident, named Clara, asked me if I liked grapefruit. 
"One of my favorite things! Especially the Ruby Red! "
She then gave me this little grapefruit spoon and said, "Every time you eat a grapefruit, think of me.


It brings tears to my eyes just to write this because it is true.  I think of little Clara so often.  She was one of those sweet four-foot-nothing ladies with a big heart & such a good sense of humor.  We had quite a good time when I entered her room to assist her.

Thank you Clara for so many lovely moments . . . and for the grapefruit spoon.  I'll never forget you!

(And you know, we weren't even supposed to accept gifts from the residents . . .  so go ahead, track me down.  Try and get that spoon!  Clara would be laughing from Heaven and I'd be laughing right along with her!)

New Year's Resolutions vs One Little Word

This year marks my seventh year participating in One Little Word, a brilliant idea by Ali Edwards to keep focus all year on improving yourself without resolutions per se.

The gist of it to select a word that speaks to you, for example, light, hope, focus, bloom, less, connect, and the list goes on.  Certainly your word might point you in the direction of the gym or healthier eating but that isn't the primary focus.

Each month Ali sends prompts to keep your word present in your mind.  Your exercises are kept in a type of scrapbook or journal.

My word this year is RELAX.

After a few years of self-reflection and hard work facing my inner demons, I realized I had developed an independence early in life that led me to orchestrate pretty much everything in my life.  I became a care giver as a twelve year old plus being hard wired to solve problems/fix everything in sight, so control was a natural state of living for me.  The only problem with "making things happen" is that you do so with limited information, restricted insight and lack of wisdom.  You think you know what's best for you, but that is most often incorrect with disastrous results very possible.

Now that Life has given me a total do-over, I can live differently.  Trust the process. Work on being a better person and let the rest fall into place.

RELAX and LET LIFE HAPPEN.

For a control freak, this involves making choices every day.  For example, I spent 2 hours filling out a questionnaire for an online dating site . . . then decided that this was orchestrating again.  As I viewed the matches that came up for me, I saw myself slipping into familiar patterns that I no longer want.  Easy decision.  Delete.


I am really enjoying life now.  I am used to living in a new place, navigating new roads, meeting new people and participating in new activities . . . in short a new adventure.  Life is very good and even when normal life 'happens', like a car accident or losing your Nexus card, things tend to work out for the better. 
My Nexus card was turned in to the RCMP the same day!   When I had my accident (it was my fault!), the cops were so nice, I even got a hug.  The firemen were awesome, and the witness at the scene was so kind & supportive. ICBC personnel were amazingly helpful.  My car was fixed almost immediately when no collision repair shop was even taking vehicles in for at least two weeks. I didn't intend to jump to the head of the line . . .  Even 'bad' things turned out well.

I am learning that I do not need to control things, that the best things in life happen when you aren't really looking!  So I am going to give relaxing my best shot this year!!

Top Ten Moments of 2016

Before I get too geared up for 2017, I like to look back over the past year and count my blessings.  Actually there are a lot more than ten, but you have to set boundaries!!

Volunteering in my community.  I'm selling poppies in the Save-On foods store, which I did three sessions in total.
And those pesky poppies . . . I lost mine while I was standing there!  Luckily it fell into the bin! ( I wasn't able to identify it)

One of the best things about living in the Lower Mainland is the huge number of concerts, plays & shows available.  Whiterock/South Surrey has so much going on I rarely have to venture outside my community.  By far my favs are the Christmas pantos and the Nutcracker ballet.
Subscriptions to the concert series, which are many & varied are reasonably priced too!  About $20 per concert.

Bus Tours take all the headache out of traveling further afield.  Leave the driving to the professionals.  Sit back & enjoy your fellow passengers. Take lots of pictures.
I went on three Tours this year,

-The Victorian Castles
-Vancouver Harbour Tour with Bloedel Conservatory
-Stanley Park Bright Nights Train Ride & Christmas lights Tour

A huge highlight of my whole year was the Facebook Hikes, organized by George Greenwood.
We started in Feb going to Burns Bog in Delta, then off to Flood Falls, Hope BC in March.
April found us at Kanaka Falls in Maple Ridge.  I missed the one is May and one in July.  It is tough for me to miss, but I think my ankle was sprained and it was a no-go.
June took us to Othello Tunnels near Hope.  Spectacular to say the least. 


And One of the best things about the hike is the people you meet while you're hiking! 

August Long we spent the day at Rolley Lake in Mission.  Just a little "almost private" location with hot & sunny weather.

Late in August we also did a Saturday night sunset hike on Crescent Beach . . .WOW!

We finished up the year in September at the Great Blue Heron Reserve in Chilliwack.

I'm sewing and quilting again.  I thought I had given it all up.  Certainly I gave away my stash and nearly all UFO's before I moved, but all it took was an innocent hour of free motion and I was snared.
Not sure if I fell OFF the wagon or crawled back up ONTO the wagon, but I am in full blown crazy quilt mode now!  oh boy!

Another great thing about West Coast living is, it's a holiday destination, so I get lots of visitors along the way.

Arlene & Al Kehler came to North Van for two months last winter and it was fantastic to have them close by.  We explored the beaches closest to where I live.

Mary Hough came by in July for a long coffee break!  Just like we saw each other every day . . . friends are like that!

In November Dennis & EJ dropped by for lunch on the Whiterock waterfront. Love it!

This photo is from our Sunset Hike, but it is ten minutes from my place.  I love the West Coast.  The air is fresh and the weather is perfectly wonderful.  I don't even mind the snow . . . it remains so warm!
There is so much to explore.  George tells us in three years of FB hikes, we have not repeated one location yet and there is long way to go before we will need to.  And that's just in my backyard!

This one nearly made number One just from the sheer sensory overload I experienced!  First of all the historical cathedral was enough to get me gasping . . . then the choir started to sing & sway.  The acoustics in the sanctuary are the best I have ever heard and the singing and arrangements of the Christmas songs were thrilling.  Honestly I had to keep reminding myself to breathe . . .  truly a breathtaking performance!

Mom & I have so much fun together. I am so lucky to have these days, months & years to spend with her.  She'll be eighty-four in a few days and I'm savoring every moment, making up for lost time.  Not everyone gets a second chance.

It also gives me an opportunity to keep my eye on her health.  I have 16 years of long term/assisted living experience which helps us both! Without this we might resort to hair pulling!!  (no. no, mine's too thin!)

Numero Uno has to be TEAM moments.

Thank you Kathy & Shel for this past year of sharing, caring  and support, and fun!

I never had a sister and I consider myself very fortunate indeed to have not one, but two now!  

You hold a giant place in my heart, I love you both very much. 

Besides,

We rock!

Looking on the Bright Side

Since my divorce almost three years ago, I have learned to breathe out the bad and breathe in the good.  Looking on the bright side has become a way of life for me . . . I keep my eyes and ears open each day for "whatever tickles my fancy!"

For example, yesterday while filling up with gas, I noticed the lady next to me had a Pillsbury Dough Boy hanging from her mirror . . .  "I love your dough boy!" I told her.
"My son is 46 years old and I got him (dough-boy) when my son was born by sending in Pillsbury labels.  So he's pretty old! . . .  and besides that he helps me identify my car in a crowded parking lot!"

We both giggled and I told her I needed a green eyeball to find my car . . . (all cars are grey!)


While in line waiting for my fabric to be cut at the Jo-Ann Craft store in Bellingham, I chatted away with a 4 year old girl who was getting her granny to sew her a ballerina dress of pink sparkles & tulle.  She told all about everything even about her granny going to "hostipal" when she broke her arm, about their "rotten" old Christmas tree they were taking somewhere, and we compared our numbers for who-is-next.  Waiting in line can be a lot of fun!!  (we ended up together in the check out line too!)

I stopped for lunch at a place called "Over Easy" and you can imagine what fun it was to enter and see vintage chrome tables & chairs while oldies played on the Jukebox . . . (I mean television)

The place was BRIGHT and painted yellow!  They served yam tater tots (omg!) and I had fun chatting with the waitress. Eating lunch by yourself?  Too much fun!

There were many, many moments like this during my day yesterday.  I try to bring sunshine with me wherever I go. 

Winter Wonderland

People who have lived on the West Coast for many years have told me it has been just ages since a winter like this has been on record.  So "what's the big deal?", you may ask.   Due to the warm temperatures, everything here turns to ice.  And for a dog walking people who walk, bike and generally spend everyday outdoors, (at least a portion of each day), it means navigation of sidewalks and streets has become lethal.  As expected, the city crews are not used to the snow & ice and recently construction crews have been taken off their regular jobs and applied to snow & ice removal.  As all Albertans know, if you get the fresh snow removed, you have less work to do.  Ice is hard to get rid of and it takes a lot more time.  West Coast crews don't know this yet!

Well some people know this.  In my building the snow blower was out on day one to clear our front drive.  (Unfortunately on New Year's Eve, I had to shovel a trail up the parking ramp to get out of the garage!  Goodbye hair-do!  My curls flopped & my bangs stood right up in protest!  They don't do blizzards!)

Aside from all this, we live in a Winter Wonderland.  If you find a clear spot to stand and are sure you won't take a tumble, you look up and see the gorgeous surroundings all glistening with diamonds in the sunshine.  It takes your breath away to drive down the streets and see the forests all gleaming with fresh snow on every branch.

Even courtyard fountains are entertaining!

A forty year resident of the Lower Mainland told me yesterday that the longest winter weather he had ever experienced lasted 6 weeks.  By those calculations, we should have about a week and a half left!  We won't even wait for Mr Groundhog!

And that makes me happy.  I once asked my Aunt Shirl how she could handle all the rain out here.  She replied, "When the daffodils bloom in February, you forget all about it!"  Well said.