How Grey Was My Valley?

 Ok its 2024, and since my return to the sunny island in the Pacific, I think its rained 19 out of 21 days.  Indeed we seem to be caught in continuous weather warnings.  

Its like Meteorologist Mikey has just started to make stuff up.  It is an El Nino its a Polar Vortex!  Its a tropical river, or some such new woke term.  We used to call it Winter.  cold spell.  Rain.  Or even Rainy . And  hot dry spell.  Nope, not anymore.  It makes me feel old and out of touch.  Which apparently I have become! Lol.  

One goal achieved:  I cleared up my spare bedroom, now have a bed!  So thats a good thing, more work than I anticipated.  Now to finish up the office.  Yikes.  First item: get rid of stuff that has no use.  So into the dumpster went about 18 framed documents/certificates that neither Mac nor I will ever gaze upon again.  My computer is up and running, which is awesome since I found a plethora of music I feared I’d lost!  And the computer Mac bought but never hooked up was quickly sold and shipped away. Slow but sure its going to become my room!

Today however I only managed to hang a new calendar up in the office.  And put a few books back on the shelf.  So small victories, but victories none the less!  Rome wasn't build in a day.  

Oh and did I mention the ceaseless wind…  ceaseless in its determination to wreck and ruin my catio fence!!! I did manage to resurrect it…and a friend is bringing me some rebar to reinforce it.  Lol  so now Casey can go outside and glare at her surroundings.  Mostly at the hummingbirds, who continue to ckme to my now thawed feeder. I’ve been using zip ties to fasten it to the fence, which last about 4 minutes against a 70 kph wind.  Sheesh.  Paracord it is!  Lets see if it holds thru the night, fingers crossed!

Tonight its hamburger and cabbage soup, likely so,e other junk food, and looking for something interesting on the boob tube.  5:41 p.m. and its totally dark, windy and wet outside.  Sigh.  Tomorrow is another day!  This coming weekend is the Robbie Burns dinner at the local Legion.  I’m so looking forward to it, praying a couple of bearded kilted Scots will be there! I’ll raise a dram to Mac, shed a tear and toast to the coming year.  

Slainte!

Ola Mexico!

 I am blessed.  My isiter invited me to join her in Mexico for a week, at a 5 star all inclusive resort and Oh But its lovely here! 

I flew from the Vancouver Island to Calgary, then to Puerto Vallarta,.where I’d meet Sister.  The flights were ok, but full, but nothing prepared me for arrival at the airport in Mexico!  We’re talking mega crowded, organized confusion.  After an hour I made it thru security, and hooked up with sis in a bar where I was immediately fleeced by the waiter. Ok, that was a lesson, now I know…lol

 Yeah, cabbed to the resort, and then…the vacation was on!   Wow! wonderful staff, easy check in, but wait….we reserved a room with two queen beds, and there was one California King bed.  We are adaptable, and that bed is huge! So no problemo. Hung up my clothes, and off we go for cervesa. Not sure that was spelled correctly.  Also learned how to spell tequila.  A lot. 😋

The food here must compare to a cruise ship…there is a Lot and a massive variety.  Breakfasts were super good.  Fresh fruit, traditional Mexican delights…bliss! There are a selection of restaurants and bars on site, so we could spend a whole day just eating and drinking around the place.  Which we did the first day here.  😎

An hour at the spa I was as relaxed as a boneless chicken, perfect!  I came here to get rid of some of the past 7 months of stress. So far, so good!

This place has a lot of people.  Many pools, weddings every night, all sorts of people.  There seem to be a lot of Canadians, and so far I've met 8 from Van Island.  Nice folks, amazed on with my capacity for Charo Negro…tequila, lime and coke.  Yummers. 

Flew back on the 24th, on a Dream Liner…very nice comfy flight.  5 hr layover in Calgary ended up with me releasing my inner Santa Mac and entertaining two energetic boys ages 6 and 9 by introducing myself as Mrs Claus.  They were hilarious, their dad visibly relieved that I was entertaining them with stories of doing the elves cooking and picking up their socks.  Lol it was fun. 

We landed  on the island and I got to my car around 1 a.m., so crawled into bed at the b&b I’d reserved by 2.  And Christmas Day?  Found a Timmys that was open, then back to bed…huge wind and rain storm was hitting the island, so I stayed under the covers, watching movies and reading.  And looking at photos of my life with Santa over the past 23 yrs.  Enjoying memories, recalling the moments of wonder with him.  I was so lucky.  And now, well its never going to be the same  

That doesn't mean my life won’t have joy.  It does.  My heart is filled with joy, grateful for what I’ve had.  Do I miss him?  Every moment.  No regrets.  It was a blessed life.  

Being Christmas I have a duty, nay a responsibility to do the season right.  A tree, lights, decorations, some garland.  And Turkey!  Today, I stopped at the local IGA when I got back to town.  A whole bird was out of the question, I mean I've cooked what? 6 meals since Mac passed.  But what to my wondering eyes did appear?  A turkey drumstick!  Kaloo Kalay!  Grabbed a box of turkey dressing, a tin o cranberry sauce, an envelope of gravy….9 brussel sprouts, now we’re cooking! One pan, some chicken broth and 90 minutes later the house was redolent with the aroma of a roasting delicious bird.  And yes, it was delicious! Amazingly, one drumstick, and I had enough for seconds, and there are leftovers for tomorrow 😉 Oh Mac would be proud. 

And that my friends is how this old gal spent her first ever Christmas alone for many many years.  It was occasionally tough, mostly joyful and filled with the love of family and friends.  A bit of turkey, some tequila, some tears…I think everything is going to work out okay.  

Until next year, Feliz Navidad, Ano Nuevo! 😎😻🎄🎉💕

End of the Year….

 Now it’s December, full on winter weather on the North Island.  Major winds, waking me at 3 a.m. with the sound of the surf.  A lot of rain.  The winter sideways pounding rain.  But on the upside the temp is above freezing, today it was at least 8C.  Even with threatening clouds.  Heck a nearby village had lightening!  Very odd weather indeed.

I continue  to enjoy my new path, new journey.  I have a new friend, a very nice gentleman, who has proved to be a stellar dinner companion.  We both are dealing with loss of spouse, and are just….lonely.  As I’ve said in the past, Its not the lonely as much as the Alone.  So we have coffee, chat about life, friends and family.  He is a true island dude…logger, mechanic, hunter.  He is not a Habs fan, tends to cheer on the Blackhawks, but that keeps hockey interesting!  

Hows the Dodge Journey?  Well it has a mystery lurch, mystery in that the mechanic I took it to could not find anything amiss.  Said it runs great!  Hope its cured, I’ll take it for a rip and find out.

This weekend Im heading back to Vancouver, to enjoy the Vancouver Men’s Choral group, 120 strong, amazing voices!  Its a chance to glam up, hit the Queen Elizabeth theatre and enjoy time with friends ,

So after consulting my neighbor in a game of “how does this look?” I’m ready to hit the city 🥂👠.  

Then back for a few days before heading to 👙🌞⛱🌴with my sister!  Ariba!!  Then back again to the Island weather 🌬🌧💦 And before you know it, the year will be winding up, and I’ll be looking for Robbie Burns and a Haggis!

Its been one hell of a year.  Very stressful, some joy, love and fun.  But deep pain and sorrow losing my darling husband.  Paperwork is being wrapped up as we speak, and I am already imagining 2024 and a road trip to ….who knows? 

So tonight, I am hoping for more than last nights 3 hrs of sleep.  My mind is becoming more settled, peaceful.  Focused? Wellll not so much.  

Hope you all have a peaceful enjoyable December.  🎄⛄️ Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I keep on searching…who the heck am I?

 Not to sound too depressing, or depressed, but its 7 months since my identity changed.  

I’m no longer a wife: not cherished, not loved passionately, no longer a partner at the table, or a co-conspirator planning the next adventure.  I don’t wake up to a big warm breathing man in the morning.  I think that is one of the toughest things to get my head around, the aloneness. I am fortunate that I have a wonderful strong group of friends who check in on me, encouraging me to get out and live.  Which I try to do.  More on that in a bit. But times the loneliness is hard to bear.  Thank God for so many wonderful memories.  

I’m no longer interested in getting up and getting cleaned up, dressed for the day.  Indeed my motivation for a day not just in pajamas  is tough to find, particularly on weekends.  When waking up at 3:30 a.m., checking messages and emails keeps me awake till 7 a.m., its super easy to just go back to sleep until later, as in 11:30 !!!  Not a good habit.  Fortunately my Casey Cat demands not only her breakfast, she also wants to go outside and won’t  hesitate to purr loudly in my face.  Very demanding. 😺

My identity as a biker has also gone downhill.  Although I am welcomed as Macs spouse by the Widows Sons,  I am fairly certain my riding days are over.  On the upside I think I can sell the Streetglide this coming spring.  This has been really hard, as I’ve ridden many many miles over the past 50 odd years, with so much fun, wonderful sites to see, some wicked storms, coast to coast in my country and the United States and into Mexico.  

Now I’m retired, so I’m Im not even an economic developer!  Not that I miss it, and there isn’t a wallet deep enough to get me working in municipal government again, but I must admit my profession has had some very cool rewarding twists and turns, travel overseas to Norway, and the Caribbean, awesome staff, accolades I never envisioned when I started.  Yeah it had some perks. heck I think it was a great way to travel all over North America!

Tonite as I wrap up what could become a pity party, I realize I’m no longer who I was.  Oh Im I’m still a sarcastic, red neck, but I am working hard to distract myself.  

I’m a traveller.  This summer’s wandering to the prairies and the US showed me I’m braver than I thought, camping in my car…very good for rebuilding my self confidence.  The laughing and b.s.ing along with a few scotches didn’t hurt either.  I recently flew to Vancouver for a wedding, and super fun get together with the old crew, then to Tumbler Ridge to see mom and Bob.  An aside, the bumpy flight home was almost air sickness:  note to self, no seafood chowder before a flight. Now my sites are set for a 2024 road trip to who knows?  Virginia?  who knows!!

I’m now a member of the Legion, which means Fridays I can get out, socialize, and make some new acquaintances., some of whom are fast becoming friends. Its a safe, welcoming group where I can get a decent dinner and a beer for $15.00  (I think I’ve mentioned in previous blogs my challenge with cooking)

 I joined a Seniors Core Strength yoga group - definitely outside my comfort zone, since I end up sore and achy after the really big stretches.  Finding out a couple of things about myself like a) I have no sense of balance, and b) flexible is not an accurate descriptive for myself.  I’m working on it.  Much healthier than cookies and chips (see previous no cooking reference)

I’m a Rotarian, and trying to organize my time to make the meetings!  Lol As I write these new things, Its clear I’m slowly evolving over time.  I mean, I went to bingo one night with a new friend. I am comfortable going to my neighbour's in my PJ’s with coffee in hand to chat about weather, life, pets, etc.  I bought a new to me car.  

Life may not always be smooth sailing, but so many supportive friends make it much more bearable.  Admittedly I have slid into depression, not deep or self harming, but a brutal loneliness for someone who won’t be back.  A shallow depression?  Lol  But as I write tonight about the good things in my life, I reassured that I will survive and even thrive.

I mean, I am now watching hockey on TV!  Me and the cat, beer and chips - go Habs!  I did actually cook this week, a delicious steak and spud meal, some yakasoba noodles with pork and shrimp and now a fridge full of leftovers.  And my house is festive with 20 Santas distributed throughout and the tree decorated.  

Thanks friends for keeping me out of the ditches as it were.  I’m safe and warm, as a storm rages outside.  Hugs to y’all 🤗💕✌️

Hey look at me, I’m Cooking!

 The cost of stuff is getting ridiculous!  As all of you may have noticed.  I thought gas was crazy in BC, let alone on the north end of Vancouver Island!  Well, yes it is, however this weekend I, going to “motor” to the new Coop gas bar in nearby Port Hardy.  Also because I have a Coop card and may as well get the member discount.  

Today however, I got sticker shock when I purchased deodorant.  Regular old Secret for women, no designer, high end, fancy schmancy pit deodorizer.  I nearly choked: $8.60 for one!  Crazy!  It cost $3. More than thru Amazon!  Sooo next time I may just order online. 

Online seems to be the answer, and while I don’t like making Jeff Bezos even more of a kazillionaire, (he didn’t even send us a Christmas  card last year) it seems to make sense financially. I mean c’mon, I am a senior, on a fixed income!!  Albeit a lively, smart arse, hilarious senior, but I digress.

So back to the title: I’m cooking.  Yup, its been nearly 6 months but I am making food, instead of take out or just chocolate and red wine. Cooking for one has definitely been an adjustment.   I can’t keep raw veg in my fridge, since the crispers are either a) filling with water, the source of which I have yet to identify, or b) freezing my veg rock solid in crisper #2.  So since we used to get Hello Fresh delivered in Alberta, and even here in Port McNowhere, the nice delivery man brings me a box with three well planned meals, every Tuesday.  

Let me break it down: each meal is a generous portion intended for 2 people.  Now since I’m a one woman show, this means 1 meal is split into two, either lunch and dinner or two dinners.  So two days of food per meal.  This translates into potentially 6 meals in a week, for around $50 total or $8.33 a meal.  The bonus is so far I am actually getting 3 or 4 meals out of one meal package.  And yes they are delicious and not just noodles and burger. 

Oh I still find reasons to go to the grocery store, for pop, chips, bagels, and creamer.  But now no more agonizing over what to make.  Added bonus: each meal has veggies!  Uhuh.  And when I really crave variety, I go to the Legion and grab the $10 Friday home cooked vittles!  (Tomorrow beef dip!  Yummo) 

The only down side is I still have to do dishes.  Thank goodness I have a dishwasher, lol.   

P.S. today I even mentioned baking Christmas cookies!   OMG yes, life goes on! 

Prepping for a long wet winter ahead….He Shoots He Scores!

 Big News:  I’m watching hockey on television again! 

Oh its been at least three decades, back when LaFleur was still racing up and down the ice.  But inspired by my puck addicted friends, I signed up for Sports Net and tonight watched the Habs beat the Blackhawks.  It was great! Indeed I was by myself, along with the cat who slept through the game. How could I have forgotten how exciting the watching hockey could be? Goals, penalties, a few minor fights (more shoving matches) and one bloody nose. ..I found myself yelling along, “c’mon pass, Pass!,” and “Take the shot, ohhh darn it was open”,  I had a blast!  Well provisioned with a cold beer, a buttery bowl of popcorn, and some home made chili - which was delish - it was a superb way to spend Saturday night. 

I recall when my high school friend Yvonne and I were in the full throes of hockey mania, early 70’s, we’d come to my house to watch the game.  My Dad however was a 100% to his dying day a Toronto Maple Leaf fan,  and hearing us cheer Montreal when the Leafs were playing:  well he’d unceremoniously kick us out of the house.  Lolol When in my late teens as a waitress I actually served veal cutlets to Foster Hewitt:  the radio broadcaster renowned for his Hockey Night in Canada phrase “He shoots,  he scores!” I think he was surprised at how this dorky teen was over the moon, meeting this man, who in my eyes was a hockey Legend! A brush with greatness? 

When I was really young hockey ruled the roost - back in The tiny Saskatchewan farm community we lived, the outdoor rink held many games, and my dad was always on the ice.  There was a shack with a wood stove where we’d  thaw frozen fingers and toes, where I learned how to cinch up my brothers skates.  Some times we’d trudge to the farm just out of town, push shovels on the dugout to clear a rink of our own,  at Buhlers Farm.  I’m pretty sure one of their boys made it to the NHL.  

In my-hand-me down boys skates, I thought having my own stick and whipping along the rink was heavenly.  Decades later, when I had a full time job, one of my first big purchases was a new pair of girls skates. Figure skates .  My first time out was skating on a lake, where I promptly caught a toe pick in a crack on the ice, and did a belly flop that knocked the wind out of me!  Other more graceful gals I hung out with laughed at me, saying I skated like a boy.  Well yes, I probably did. 😅

My winter will be filled with Stuff.  Saturday night hockey, church Sunday, two core strenthen/stretch classes during the week, and Legion supper Friday.  Heck I am even thinking of becoming a regular volunteer to prep food for Friday dinners.  Its a super deal: dinner and dessert $10, and $5 for a beer.  

Early November I’ll be doing some travelling to a wedding in Surrey and to see mom in Tumbler Ridge.  December my sister and I are off to Mexico for a week.  My biggest decision is whether or how much should I decorate for Christmas.  Then its on to another year.  

P.S.  I may have to do the January turkey 🦃 since the frozen stuffed breast at Thanksgiving was….well lets say it may have been turkey-like, but I'm spoiled.  I ended up chucking half of it in the bin.  I’m going to seek a replacement, cook it on a Saturday and enjoy all the leftovers I desire!  

Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.

Gobble Gobble! 🍂 🦃 🍁

 Well my friends  and family, tis Thanksgiving weekend in Canada.  A weekend where the crisp fall air is redolent with the smell of roasting turkey, with gravy, mashed potatoes and stuffing…and never forget cranberries.  

Its a time to be grateful.  To appreciate what you have, what you've had, and the year so far.  Now I’ll admit, there has been a major upset in my year.  One I will never forget, but I am also filled with gratefulness for the previous 23 years with my favorite person,  my darling husband Mac.  And that brings me back to Thanksgiving.  

Traditionally, this is kick off to the Endless Season of Turkey.  yes Mac was a bonafide turkey-a-holic.  Starting out with the selection of the Thanksgiving bird, which he claimed had to be a 25 pounder at minimum, and which was always a fall feast to remember!  He loved to prepare, in a variety of ways,  his “guest of honour” to kick off the turkey months to come.

Along with the Thanksgiving Turkey, there was then the November pre-Christmas “practise turkey”, followed by the December Christmas bird, and culminating in his January “birthday turkey.”   yes, he did take his bird seriously. 

Sometimes roasted to perfection, stuffed with a delicious traditional dressing, one year with Oyster stuffing, one woth Sausage stuffing and one with “historically accurate” stuffing.  This last one involved cranberries, hazelnuts, onion, and should have been delicious.  Let me explain.

Mac wanted to do the dressing as the First Canadians dressed their birds.  So native nuts and berries were used.  When we tested the bird, with the traditional Mennonite stick a fork in the thigh, to our shock the juices ran red!  Back into the oven it went, 45 more minutes.  Another test, another flow of red juice! Finally we clued in if a person puts whole raw cranberries into the dressing, it runs red…with cranberry juice!  

Another year, while living in Vancouver, we shopped at Stongs, a renowned grocery store, and as I rolled the cart to the produce section, I saw Mac in the check out line.  I hurried over to see him cradling the biggest turkey Ever in his arms, a huge happy grin .. “look at this one”!  He honestly looked like a wee lad carrying a fluffy puppy…  it was a fresh, never frozen, “ethically killed, organic “ bird, that weighed 32lbs!!!  The teller was giggling at my reaction to this behemoth of a bird, I wasn’t sure it would fit in our oven!   Well it did, it was perfection and to date the best turkey I’ve ever had!   Thankfully we had some guests with big appetites to share in the feast.  

Then came life in the NWT where he bbqed a bird on the rotisserie, which apparently our neighbors had never seen, so we again had a family of neighbors share in the bounty.  Add the wonderful spatchcocked turkeys whether on the bbq, in the smoker or in the oven, he always amazed me with his cooking prowess.  

I am going to miss those turkey-paloozas, the resultant gallons of soup, curries, gravy…. I actually found 2 turkeys in the freezer when I shifted contents to one, to sell the second freezer this past month.  One went to the church where it has gone to a family in need.  The other will go to the neighbor for a big meal.  

As for me, a turkey addict by association, I purchased a stuffed breast, which ill have Monday.  A gal has to have some leftovers for turkey buns ya know!  I’m thawing the last of frozen homemade gravy and have buns and mayo on standby.

And tonight, while I’m so grateful for the past 23 years, I am also thankful for my friends who care for me and check in on me.  Tonight I’m dining with awesome friends, and their huge family, so grateful they are in my life.

To you, my dear friends, family and readers, I remind you - be grateful and thankful for the many wonderful blessings you receive.  😍💕