Is it Halloween or is it Christmas?

I'm a bit confused with seasons at the moment - barely have the Thanksgiving turkeys and cranberry sauces been cleared out of the supermarkets, and we are already being inundated with Christmas displays - but Halloween seems to have that enduring appeal that has allowed it to span pre-Thanksgiving through to pre-Christmas! Oh the consumerism of it all! I have to say that I have been able to resist most of it - particularly after having the heady job of unpacking and placing so much of our things so recently - but the other day I was bewitched by this Christmas display (I thought that it looked very Aussie with Santa peeking out of the outhouse - except for the snow on the roof!):

And the next store had this display out the front...

Autumn colours are everywhere - it's very pretty here at the moment.

Last week the search was on for custard. Yes, custard. Heidi and Antoine were arriving for a belated Thanksgiving visit and I planned to have turkey and all the trimmings, along with trifle for dessert. But, ready-made custard is apparently no longer commonly sold here - I know, that's totally hard to believe! After several stops and lots of queries, we were directed to a filling for Danish pastries which is what I decided to go with. I thought it would be fine - though likely sweet. The other change was using an Almond Cream Sherry instead of normal sherry. Wish me luck!  **As it turned out, the combo worked pretty well.

Last week also was my first attendance at a quilt guild meeting here in Nanaimo and I was really looking forward to reconnecting with my passion - especially after missing the first meeting last month. The meeting place is less than 10 minutes drive from home - a fact I'm sure I will appreciate on some cold rainy nights in the future. This particular meeting featured members selling off their unwanted fabric and quilting accessories - masses of stuff filled this church basement. The people were really friendly and I lucked out in gaining the final spot in a 5 day quilt retreat to be held in mid-November on an island a few hours north of Nanaimo. That should be fun and really get me back into the quilting groove! Will also be a chance to explore another area.

I wonder which of those ladies will be my new best quilting friend?
I have yet to connect with one of the smaller groups who meet more often.

We were excited to welcome Heidi & Antoine last Wednesday for their first visit to Vancouver Island. As we did the tour of the house and deck upstairs, the last person out of the house didn't realize that the door handle was in the lock position! After enjoying the lights on the water etc. and commenting on how it was getting just a bit chilly, we were ready to retire inside for a welcome drink or two. Not to be. The locked door presented several problems - one was no-one had a key; other one was that we could get down to the back yard but couldn't get out because of our very secure side gate. Antoine somehow got himself lowered down off the deck and went over to the neighbours because we thought he still had a key to the house from the previous owners. Nope he didn't. While we were pondering what to do next, Brian disappeared - when we found him in the dark in the back yard, he had put the ladder up to our bedroom and was climbing into the only unlocked window in the house! We felt a bit sheepish when we finally got inside and vowed to have a plan B in place against possible future similar occurrences. So, that was an auspicious start to the visit.

Next morning we were up and on the road to Cathedral Grove and Coombs again...also decided to drive about 1/2 hr further to Pt Alberni which is a very pretty town. We had packed a picnic lunch which we enjoyed down by the water in the sunshine.

Cathedral Grove's fall colours.

The maple leaves were huge.

Cathedral Grove had been recently drenched by rain and
nicely decorated with fall leaves so looked quite a
bit different from our visit there 5 or 6 weeks ago.

Fall colours on the road to Pt Alberni.

Pt Alberni - looking up the main street.

We were quite amused by this waterfront sculpture 

and what it was doing to Brian's hat.

Heidi & her crusty seafaring friend.

This boat took forever to drag a huge load of logs
across the harbour to the mill on the other side.

Coombs Marketplace: Took a while to realize that
all of the vegetables in this display were fake!

We were taken by this really colourful cheese display.

Heidi at Beaufort Lake. 

Heidi, Brian &Antoine at same lake.

And just another pretty view of aforesaid lake.

And again...

We got home and had a short rest and then headed off downtown to have early dinner at the Lighthouse Bistro on the Nanaimo waterfront. Now that the summer is over and Thanksgiving weekend past, the place was very very quiet but still lovely.

The next morning was a bit rainy but we headed out anyway south about 45 minutes to Ladysmith. After a tour of their waterfront park and a bit of a wander in the main street (and a quick visit to a newly discovered quilt shop), we headed back to Nanaimo to catch the small passenger ferry across Nanaimo Harbour to Protection Island to have a late lunch at Dinghy Dock Pub - a very quaint spot. It's closing in two weeks for the winter for repairs to their pylons, etc. so it was great to get a visit in.

The street car at Ladysmith - passing the very colourful Visitor Centre.

Heidi & Antoine 

The Dinghy Dock Pub dock. 

The rules for the ferry - hope you can read them...funny.

And the ferry...about 350 people live on Protection Island
and many use this small ferry to get back and forth to Nanaimo.
The trees in the background are on Newcastle Island
- location of my big hike of last month

The tired group made their way home with the lure of an evening of karaoke. Brian had hooked up all the bits and pieces and was ready to go. We all sang our hearts out - some pretty well, others not quite so but it was fun anyway.

Saturday was much quieter - I spent the day cooking the rest of the dishes for our belated Thanksgiving meal that evening. Heidi and I had done a couple of things the previous night so that made things simpler. We had a wonderful meal - followed up by the Trifle with Vancouver Island variations - very nice!

The Sous Chef in action. 

Dinner! We used some of the autumn leaves
as makeshift table decorations.

We were all in bed early as our visitors had to be up and onto the first ferry in the morning. We were up with them and it seemed strange a while later to see the ferry go past in the dark knowing they were on it. Even stranger to think that the visit we have looked forward to for many weeks is now over - but that's how it goes isn't it? We had a wonderful few days and I think they both loved their first visit to the island.

Brian and I were both pretty tired but our neighbours two doors down took us up on a rain check to come over for a visit yesterday afternoon so I had to get organized and do some cleaning up and prepare something to eat. We had a lovely couple of hours with them - they have been in the same house since 1972 so they had lots of great history of the area to tell.

After they left we had dinner of leftover turkey and trimmings from the previous night - yum! In bed by 8.30pm - slept till 7.00am this morning!

I think this week is going to be a little more unstructured - might think about starting on the job hunting journey...maybe.

Happy Anniversary...Happy Thanksgiving...just happy

Despite my explaining how stressed I have been, some of my loyal readers have actually been putting pressure on me when my updates are a little tardy...tsk tsk! So, with apologies to those who will remain nameless, here we go again...

Last Tuesday morning, as directed, we presented ourselves to the Canadian Border Services Agency in downtown Nanaimo to meet the moving company driver, Ron, to clear our goods. We were there early so decided to go in and start the process. We got quite the grilling that's for sure along with admonitions that we weren't to sell any of our goods for twelve months or use anything for profit. Hand on heart, we so swore! We knew how much care we had taken with cleaning and packing (and so does half our neighbourhood). With the karcher, hot water, bleach and an array of cleaning products, everything having any connection with the outdoors was scrubbed to within an inch of its life. Anyway, all good and we were on our way.

Only in downtown Nanaimo could a 73 foot long rig be parked in the main street in front of the main Canadian government office building. Fortunately the parking inspector must have been working elsewhere at the time as they are very diligent at doing their job - we were spoken to severely the week before when we stopped for 2 minutes downtown in a no stopping zone to load something.

We were concerned at where the moving truck would park in order to unload at our house. We didn't say anything as we figure it is their job to ask us and they didn't. Ron didn't blink. He parked that thing right up close to the "curb", put a few warning cones out and turned his flashers on. He encroached onto the road a bit but all day from 11am to 11pm, cars, buses and trucks whizzed by barely slowing down. I think they must be used to it. We decided that if the movers weren't worried, why were we? It meant that every item from the truck (three-quarters was our stuff) had to be brought up our somewhat steep driveway, and then half of that taken upstairs.

Ron & Jason (still smiling) at the end of a very long day!

Ron's offsider, Jason, worked tirelessly all day doing the unloading while Ron stayed dry in the garage wielding the knife and unwrapping everything that was bubble-wrapped - all the while regaling us with stories, opinions, etc. I tried to count the items to make sure everything arrived (a tough job) and at the same time kept the garage free of stuff by folding and stashing the bubble wrap into big cardboard boxes. Ron told me I'd saved him at least 2 hours by doing that! Didn't give us a discount though. Brian helped by unpacking all of the garage boxes and putting most of it away.

Ron told us many times during the day that part of their service was to unpack the boxes, despite my saying that I didn't think they would have time and there weren't enough spots to put things yet anyway. He was determined though and did unpack the kitchen boxes - finally quit at about 10.45pm when I told him enough was enough!

The following day we were so exhausted we barely did anything...at least I didn't. Brian managed yet another visit from the fireplace guys - this time, with his supervision and ingenuity, they managed to get it successfully installed. It works beautifully so was well worth the wait.

Yeah, a working fireplace!

That evening we had been advised of a Community Vision Rally taking place downtown and had bought tickets. Even though it was the last thing we really wanted to do that day, we spruced ourselves up and went - it was an inspiring evening with the keynote presenter being the Mayor of Whistler (location of the last Winter Olympics). We didn't stay for the second half of the evening as by then we had totally run out of steam. I'm sure we will be involved in the future.

Thursday arrived with both of us feeling a bit more normal and ready to tackle the mounds of boxes everywhere. Heidi and Antoine had deferred their trip to next week so it meant we had a good run at unpacking without having to stop - by the time they get here we will be more organized and be happy to be tour guides. Thanksgiving passed quite uneventfully, no turkey dinner in sight, but with us feeling more on top of things.

Brian & the fireplace both playing peek-a-boo.

A well deserved rest after a job well done.
*Note: Styling of the mantle yet to be completed.

Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend was our 17th wedding anniversary - also spent uneventfully which was quite fine. We had plans to go out to dinner but when the time came, were just as happy to stay in and have grilled cheese sandwiches. We have had a wonderful life together so far - love you Brian! xxx

The candlesticks we bought in Jasper on our honeymoon.

As I tackled the 50 or so boxes which mostly comprised sewing items (yikes), I came to the realization that:

a) I am very sentimental, and
b) I must have been a bower bird in my past life as I am attracted to little shiny colourful things and love to bring them home!

But, they all have a place in my home...

I am besotted with my new sewing room, the biggest ever - it is very large and is sort of half den/half sewing room.

My sewing room/den - I am absolutely besotted!
It's a big open area at the end of the family room.

Still some work to do finding spots for things - and then the machine finally gets switched on.

Sunday was a gorgeous day so it was time to take a run at the very long grass which had grown quite vigorously since we moved in. Also did a bit of trimming here and there of some of the bushes and shrubs. Took many hours but we finally had the place looking more like us.

My back is sore, my feet ache and I'm sure I can feel every muscle in my body these days...but that's a good thing right?

So, here we are on the downside of Thanksgiving, in the run up to Halloween, and we can finally start really setting down roots in our new town and new home. We feel quite blessed and were very "thankful" that everything (well, almost everything - most of Brian's drills, chargers & accessories have gone awol) actually arrived and was mostly undamaged. I'm feeling so happy, I might just carve a pumpkin for Halloween!

As I post this post, from the kitchen window I can see the ferry leaving for the mainland - it looks so beautiful with the dark stormy sky and the sun setting on it...all viewed through the lovely red leaves of our little Japanese maple tree out the front (which in a few short weeks will be naked and not so picturesque). Thought you might like to see it.

Some days are diamonds, some days are stones...

Things have been going along fairly smoothly these past few months (the "diamond" days), but last week we went back to life's box of chocolates for another dip...and got the chocolate with the piece of foreign matter in it!!

And the "stone" days? What I thought was my back acting up, has ended up in a case of shingles (which I think sounds like the plague and I'm sure is pretty much as horrible except you don't die, although you'd like to some days). Anyway, after almost two weeks, that seems to be on the mend.

More stones...after deciding to track progress of our ship, I discovered it in a port somewhere in China - about the same time it was supposed to be arriving in Vancouver - not good. I contacted our shipping company in Sydney to express my concern. They advised that our container had been swapped over to another ship somewhere in Malaysia. With the new ship's name in hand, I was happy to discover it in port in Vancouver when and where it was supposed to be. Oh sweet relief.

The Northern Prelude - first leg - our's is the red container.

The Ital Unica - final leg

The last week has now been a series of mind battles with the Canadian movers who are to deliver our container over to the island. It's too expensive on the ferry, etc. etc. etc. Well, not our fault. Anyway, after maybe just a small amount of badgering, they've agreed it will be over here this Tuesday. We are tentatively optimistic. Also frantically trying to decide where we want things to go so that we don't end up moving things upstairs or downstairs later - as we are known to change our minds often about furniture placement.

On a good day last week, we took another little run out to the "Goats on the Roof" area for lunch - and a spot of shopping. Brian discovered every man's dream - the biggest building recycling place ever! Acres of it. Well, it felt like acres as we checked out every window, piece of wood and old everything. Then the fun stuff (another place) - got a great deal on an old oak chest of drawers for our bedroom (wouldn't suit those with a modern aesthetic but we love it). Also found a funky wall clock for the stair wall.
.

A "diamond" day amongst the stones...with the decision made to get a fireplace insert in our fireplace downstairs, also came the inspiration to paint all of the white brick. Thanks to Brian's efforts it is now a lovely shade of dark taupe - which should look very swish against the black of the insert to be installed. You can't keep a good man down - Brian's reputation of his skills with renovations is well known and he doesn't disappoint - I'm sure he has rearranged the garage several times already and it's still basically empty. Good practice for when his man stuff arrives.

The unfinished insert...has a surround & door yet to be fitted. 

Oh, not yet done with the stones it seems!  The fireplace insert people arrived last Thursday to do the install. Nice guys, worked hard...only to discover that our chimney has a bend in it and the flue insert wouldn't get past it. So, back to the shop. And back with a smaller flue. That wouldn't work either.

The little flue that wouldn't.

They decided if they fabricated a special piece to go up from the bottom and meet with the bit from the top, that might solve the problem. They'll be back Friday!  And they were. I was so sick of the whole thing by then that I went into our little den and shut the door to drown out all of the yelling and grunting and groaning. So, the new piece didn't work either. We have another idea. We'll be back Monday. That's tomorrow. Wish us luck. They've got stuff all over the floor of the family room. If it's not finished, it will complicate things just a bit for the movers on Tuesday. Yes, some days are stones for sure!

We have our first delivery of wood arriving this afternoon. Brian has cleared out a spot just outside the back of the garage and within easy reach of the door so hopefully it will all fit in there.

When we were out grocery shopping yesterday, I purchased a crock pot - our first meal is currently simmering away so we are anticipating a nice beef stew later tonight for dinner. Today is definitely looking more diamond like!

Looks a bit runny-will have to consult instructions for a fix.
You know when you are out walking and you smell something amazing
and you wish it was your house?  Well, for once it's at my house!

One thing I always have to remember above all else is that I always have a diamond close by...my sweetie Brian!

Oh, do you remember that book "All I really need to know, I learned in kindergarden"?

Well, that's not entirely true...what don't you learn in kindergarten that you need later in life?

• Dark wood floors and light coloured hair are not a good mix
• A stainless steel finish on appliances is highly overrated
• Beeping appliances sound like a good idea, but aren't 
• Don't grow green beans, it's too hard to see them cause they match the leaves

Anyway, just in case it's not too late for you, I thought I'd throw in those few life lessons I've learned recently.

And, I saw a garter snake yesterday at the very back of our yard (in the wild region)...never saw a snake in our neighbourhood in Australia the whole time we were there...and, have just come from helping Brian stack the biggest pile of wood we have ever had the pleasure of dealing with. Just about filled the garage. Apparently fir is the firewood of choice here - because of cost and availability I guess. It is really nice looking wood - hope it lives up to expectations. Mike (Fatman's Logging) assures us it is fantastic and our neighbours will be talking!

It's a slow news week so I'll give you a photo of the pile of wood...

Tried another hairdresser yesterday...Lacey (complete with tattoos) from Fusion Hair. Better than the first one I tried but might still go for third time lucky.

And that wraps up the past week or two's exciting events in Nanaimo, BC, Canada. With luck, the next post will be from a fully furnished home. I can see from this week's post that I am going to have to up the interest and excitement level next time. I won't retain my readers with an ongoing diet of photos of wood and my cooking activities.