Looking forward to 2013

This year is going to be good!! To start, the year contains my lucky number and it is the year I turn 60. I don't worry about the number of years I have been here, only the quality of life. This is the year Dave and I will fly to Ecuador business class (thank you Aeroplan points!). I have already booked our 10 day land-based time in the Galapagos and am looking at how we will spend our time in the jungle. We are leaving on June 19 and returning July 20, but in the mean time, I won a ticket with Air Canada to Venezuela. Still sorting the booking code out with them and hope to travel for a week in March.

Happy New Year to all.

Coffee together in the morning

Basie stayed overnight with us for the first time.

Swimming together

I've been taking my grandson, Basie, swimming whenever we are together. He can only last about 30 minutes, but I figure any time in the water is good for his confidence and we can practise what he learned during the summer when we took lessons for two weeks.

Fill and Go

I went to a conference in Kamloops at TRU and found their water-bottle filling station very interesting. I am amused with the smallest of things. Never saw one of these before but would love to see them everywhere. I love my water!

Helicopter

Was delayed coming home day by a helicopter picking up an injured person. The driver of a car did not negotiate a curve in the road and ended up in a field. The single occupant was transported to the hospital by helicopter.

Corn season

It's no wonder we find cobs of corn on the road.

Volunteering at Kaslo Jazz Fest

Would you buy a 50/50 ticket from these characters?

August on the beach

We took Basie, Hudson and Tanya to Cultus Lake today. Basie and I are going to swimming lesson starting Monday and he seems to be ok in the water so fingers crossed that the pool experience will go just as well.

Relax, let it flow. Paint some happy little clouds.

Did you ever grow anything in the garden of your mind?

As seen in Manning Park

Planting time in the valley

Planting = dust 

Company Team Day

Went on a bus with the rest of the department to Loon Lake. I thought there was only one Loon Lake in BC but apparently not. Just one hour away from home, Loon Lake UBC Research and Education Centre is set in the middle of a 5000 hectare forest dedicated to research and education in the field of forestry. With Golden Ears part to the east, Pitt Lake to the west and extensive areas of Crown forest to the north, the setting is amazing. Loon Lake UBC Research and Education Centre appears to offer a lot, but unfortunately I was  stuck inside listening to a speaker and could only dream that that I was on that wonderful lake in a kayak. 

It's running season

I went for my first 9k run in a long time and this is the wildlife I saw.
Not as exciting as the deer or miniature horse I saw last year, but the year is still young.
I just signed up for a 10km run May 27 Run for Water and a half marathon on September 30 Surrey World Music Marathon. This is the first marathon for Surrey and it looks like a lot of fun. They will have entertainment from different countries along the course. They call it cultural miles.

Earth Day Garden Experiment

So, I'm trying out a new ground cover. It is a recycled material seldom used. This is my new berry patch. Can you guess what the material is?

We love puddles

Baby Rabbits in the Garden

Have you ever seen a wild rabbit nest?

Westcoast rain

If you live in BC, you need a hooded raincoat and boots!

We teach them young

It's spring and the lawn needs mowing.

April Fool's Day Jokes

Earth Hour Mar 31 8:30pm-9:30pm

Turn your lights out for the Earth! We only have one planet. You can help protect it. Participate in the world’s largest single campaign for the planet: Earth Hour. It starts by turning off your lights for an hour at 8:30 pm on March 31, 2012 in a collective display of commitment to a better future for the planet. Think what can be achieved when we all come together for a common cause

Welcome Back Spring

The new lambs have come out of the barn, I mowed my lawn for the first time, and tilled most of the garden. I love spring!

Pictures of our trip to Tofino

Beach combing in Chesterman Beach

One year after the earthquake in Japan and the debris is beginning to show up on the west coast of Vancouver Island, BC.

Awww, spring break!

Yippee! I'm now on a two week spring break and we are going on a road trip. I have a break from teaching but am still a student and it is crunch time with three assignments due in the next month. Graduate work takes up lots of time, but because I am taking an online course I will be bringing my work with me. Dave and I are heading to the west side of Vancouver Island for a few days of beach combing and relaxing. I'm hoping to find Japanese debris and if I do, I will be documenting the discovery. Stay tuned for pictures.

My Grandson's First Birthday

Happy Birthday Basie! Oh, how you've grown. You've added so much to our lives!!

Goodbye my friend

For nearly 16 years Arnie has been the best friend anyone could ask for and I will miss him dearly!

Spring in February

All of the snow is gone and the weather is warm enough to encourage the first spring flowers to bloom

The snow continued

After a week of -10 and school closures we are finally seeing the end. I was able to get to work two days and was stuck in the driveway on Thursday. The rain has begun.

Snow Day

Doesn't look like much snow, but when you see overturned semis along the freeway, people panic. I got to work today but the students didn't so I am warm and safe at home.

Organizing my cords

In an attempt to organize the USB cords I use often I added a bread tag to each and wrote the name of the device it is used for. Why can't they all use the same USB?

To keep them close at hand I anchored them to my desk. I'll let you know if all of this works.

Migratory visitors

I love it when the "snow geese" aka Trumpeter Swans arrive in the valley.

I took this picture from my car with my iphone so it's not a great closeup, so click on the picture for a better view of these big birds.

Super Recycler

How's that for a receipt!

Dave came home with this slip of paper, but sadly not the $3924.70. When they make an typing mistake they don't pay out. Not sure why that is?