Life's a Stitch

Don't you hate it when that happens?

It took me three months to realize I had been paying for Apple TV, something I had never used. Ninety days came free with one of our phones and Apple "generously" extended the deadline during the pandemic.  Such an oxymoron when it comes to its customers - Apple and generous. Apparently I failed to extend it on my calendar as well. Reviewing my bill I did wonder when my iCloud storage had increased, but carelessly dismissed the thought. The penny dropped when I compared the two credit card bills and realized we were paying for both services. Insult to injury? I could have had those months for free as I, too, had purchased a new phone. 

I immediately went into action, cancelling the subscripting and noting I still had access for nearly a month. The challenge - watch enough free Apple TV to make my $18 mistake worth it. The weather has cooperated in supplying a "robust" storm system, perfect for movie/series watching by the fireplace. So far we've gotten hooked by Ted Lasso, viewed the documentary about the US presidential war room during the week of 9/11, and watched the Broadway production of Come From Away. I'd say we're getting our money's worth. 

It's been quiet here as the kids have gone home with the exception of B and S, who can't leave due to covid restrictions at their destination. They've gone to spend the week with friends in Vancouver. I've spent a fair amount of time painting and taking online classes. I have been a follower of Lian Quan Zhen for years, studying with him in Spokane and Portland. A second Spokane class was cancelled due to the pandemic and he, like many artists, went the Zoom route. I generally find these classes too expensive for what they offer, but there have been exceptions. I found this one geared to his previous students and all the introductory information provided in the pre class video, so we spent the actual instructional time learning new things. I like the way he encourages us to come up with our own placement of objects, so everybody's composition is slightly different. It was nice to work larger, too, ending up with a 16x20 painting. 

It’s easier and far less expensive framing-wise when a painting is a commercially standard size. I sell my pet portraits matted so they can be popped into a widely available standard 11x14 frame. Many artists use the oddly sized traditional paper measurements that can only be custom framed, which can be quite pricy. And don't you hate it when that happens? I cut my paper to fit standard sizes.

It’s getting to be that time, when Christmas gift commissions start coming in. If you know someone who is interested please comment or dm me on my artist’s page on Instagram. Matted 8x10 custom originals, for 11x14 frames, great gifts for $150-$200 including North American shipping. Finished paintings also available with a good selection of matted paintings for 8x10 frames for $40-$70 plus shipping. 

17 years hence

This week in 2004 this blog was founded. 1337 posts later it still exists! Scrolling back, looking at some of the original photos and posts I found this one from my 50th birthday party with Bryant at age 14. Read the post and make sure you read his comment below it. 
We are fortunate to be together after long a pandemic separation, so we took advantage of the opportunity for this shot:

He's a lot more cooperative at 31. 

So many good times with family here including Christmas dinner in August, complete with a carol sing along:

and mile high Yorkshire Puddings:

Afghan Kitchen take away:

M hosted a champagne sunset on the deck:

 

Last night the weather cooperated for a sausage bbq on the beach.

There. I think I got photos of everybody and most of the highlights, which in this family seems to center around food.

Examples of efficiency

You probably detect a hint of facetiousness. This one truly baffles me. 

Because this year's taxes included the sale of our recreational property, we owed more in taxes than we ever have. We prepared ourselves, filing and paying in a timely manner, but the unusual amount triggered the dreaded review of our taxes with a turnaround time of 30 days. I noticed the date on my letter, realizing it took almost two weeks to arrive, meaning a response was due in 14 days.  

The letter was four pages in length, and the list of required documents annoyingly included items previously filed and in their possession. Not wanting to rock the boat with complaints, I scanned 35 documents and was ready for the final upload three days prior to the deadline. I logged into CRA's website and was met with a major roadblock. In order to submit your information online you need to apply for a code, which can take 10-15 days. I would have had to apply prior to receiving my letter and the need for the code isn't apparent until you attempt to submit. I appreciate efficiency and this made little sense. The next step proved even more perplexing.

I called the number of the closest taxation office, listed on C's letter. The person was happy to give him an extension, but it was a no go for me. It turns out reviews are assigned from random CRA offices across the country, and although C's came through the office in the next town over, mine originated from the office located in St. John's Newfoundland, 6600 kilometres (3600 miles) away. No wonder my letter took almost two weeks to arrive. Extensions can only be issued by the office of origin. The four hour time difference left a narrow window for a phone call, which had to be delayed another day. It was taken care of the next day, but government efficiency bewilders me. 

That wasn't enough administrative glitchiness in a short period of time. The next day I cancelled a flight we have booked for December. Cancellations are free and can be accomplished online. Supposedly. The process appeared successful until I realized my Westjet dollars weren't automatically redeposited to my account, something that usually happens instantly. A four hour, yes FOUR HOUR phone call, resolved the issue. It helped immensely to realize the kind woman assisting me was also on hold for the same length of time with the department responsible for the mistake. Not even their own staff could escape the endless on-hold music.

Once again my rant is over and life is balanced by happy times. By the end of the day, the last members of the entire family are scheduled to arrive, from places near (Alberta) and far (Bali). It's going to be Christmas in August.

The celebrations have included the pandemic delayed opening of the 30 year old bottle of birthday wine. After I had a bottle of Torres Gran Coronas from my birth year, in my 30's, we bought a bottle of Torres wine for each child in their birth year, to be opened on their 30th birthdays.

And a dinner supplied by the ocean, a ten minute walk from our house.

 

Another delight and a fright

That rhyming title reminds me of seventh grade, when the response would be "You're a poet and didn't know it 'cause your feet are two long fellows." Middle school humour. 

This delight is one of my favourites - bird song. A little house finch serenaded me on our deck throughout the first half of the summer.

They seem quieter now, as always happens in August. The other thing that occurs as the summer progresses are forest fires. This year is particularly bad in British Columbia and two of the three camp grounds we visited this year have been evacuated. Considering the town of Lytton burned completely to the ground without much warning, it must be frightening to get the message to evacuate. Unfortunately much of the province is on fire.

Although we're 150K from serious fire activity the smoke has painted our sky with a red wash. Early this morning I noticed a car stop in front of our house. The driver snapped a picture. I grabbed may phone in case of a photo worthy opportunity and this is what I found. Our sun dyed pink by smoke. There was even ash on the car. This is not touched up:

It reminded me of the lyrics in the Cyrkle's song, from those same middle school years of mine, "The morning sun was shining like a red rubber ball." Apologies to those of a certain age for the ear worm.

A couple hours later, the sun burned through the haze, but the air is thick with the scent of damp burning wood. 

Last year we camped at Manning Park, parts of which are on evacuation watch this year. I just finished this painting from a Zoom class where coincidentally, the subject was Manning Park.

 

Delights

Decades before the book came out or the podcast was aired, I kept a hand written list of delights, ordinary things or events that brought me simple pleasure.

Recent additions would include the bouquet of flowers produced by the Stargazer lily plant we bought last year.  It cost $1.00 at the grocery store nursery department. Who knew it would come back so prolifically? 

A recent trip to the thrift store yielded two treasures. First, an 8" tall Hjorth Vase from Denmark. The pottery where this originated is located on the island of Bornholm, where my father-in-law was born. Hjorth was founded in 1859, closed in 1993, and is now a working museum. We have a small collection of Hjorth vessels mostly from the 1930’s.

The second was a transferware turkey platter from the late 1940's to early 50's, made in Japan. Someone in my childhood had the exact one. My eye for artistic detail recognizes the style and colour of fruit and feathers. I happily acquired it for $4 CDN! I am going to comb through old Thanksgiving photos to see where my vivid happy memory originates. 

My pasta attachment for the Kitchen Aid mixer never disappoints. This time we made a batch of agnolotti, a simpler version of ravioli. This was stuffed with roasted cauliflower and cheese. You roll out a strip of pasta and squeeze a line of filling from a pastry bag (or in my case a ziplock) along one long side.

Then roll it up, make regular indentations with one finger and cut them on the indents to make the little pillows of deliciousness. 

Finally, they are simmered until they float, and served with your favourite sauce.

Thank you to Mari and KC for the recipe and for coaching me through the process.

And of course one thing that is guaranteed to make me smile. Meeting random Scottie dogs. I have owned two, one black, Mackey and one wheaten in colour, Gracee, remembered here, above and to the right. These two were camping a few sites from ours - Brinsy and Ace.

I read that Scotties are making a comeback in popularity, and I believe it as I have seen five in the past few weeks.

Reunions - Chapter Three

Post covid reunion #3 took place in Clearwater, BC at Dutch Lake. Their brochure describes it as halfway between Edmonton and Vancouver, but in reality it involved an additional two hours for the Alberta crew. That's a long haul with two little ones in the car.

The two campsites they arranged were perfect. We set up our living area on one and used the other for a parking lot. We had a living room, play space and dining room next to their camper, plus the micro mini in-law suite for us.

It was a week of firsts for me.

The fish hatchery across the road provided free fishing lessons complete with gear. I caught my first fish ever.

Being an established geocacher with over 700 finds, I had yet to find one with the most difficult terrain rating of 5, reserved for those that are more challenging to locate. This one, situated on Turtle Island, required kayaking a bit over 2 kilometres there and back, if you count the fact that we circumnavigated the island to find a safe landing spot. My-nine year-old grandson and I made it a successful adventure.

Knowing my affinity for treasure hunting activities, he later took me out for my first experience with a metal detector.

E's birthday included visits to two waterfalls in Wells Grey Provincial Park. The first was Helmcken Falls, the largest in the park. 

The second was Moul Falls, requiring a 90 minute hike (total in and out) and the added thrill of  the ability to go behind the falls. 

I volunteered to stay high enough above the falls in order to fulfill my responsibility as volunteer official photographer, besides my mother would be proud of me for remaining behind to pray for their safe return 😉. You could say my bravery has its limits. 

 

 

Reunion #2

I was so sad to see M and KC go home. I especially miss our deck time:

But a week later, after 503 days, we were reunited with Bryant and Sammy. They arrived from the airport with B’s friend since the age of 2, Skylar. Indescribable happiness again!

Two kids down and one to go, the third reunion scheduled to happen tomorrow. Thankfully we all made it through Covid-free and are happily vaccinated. 

 

First a two day break at Logan Lake, which feels like  our camping home. Our fourth time there in three years, we use it to break up long drives to other western Canadian destinations. it’s a particularly beautiful route:

Today C went fishing while I set up painting time on the picnic table:

 

We were visited by a friendly wee critter:

I was fine until he attempted to scamper up my leg onto the table.

 

C did his usual questioning of my need to pack along two small kitchen appliances. He didn’t complain, though, when the old toaster oven was used for homemade pizza.

And I’m sure he’ll be appreciative of slow cooker pernil (Puerto Rican pork) enchiladas when it’s our turn to make dinner for E and family.

 

So far it’s another relaxing camping trip: geocaching, painting, knitting and reading. A second camping trip with a joyous reunion on one end.  

 

 

The heavy lifting

M and KC are problem solvers. She is a planner and he is a doer with lots of practical experience. Between them they can figure out the most complex of problems. This visit the  first one was fixing the espresso machine I bought a few years ago with Airmiles points. M diagnosed a faulty solenoid, ordered a replacement and the two of them reassembled the machine successfully. 

At my request, C built a custom king size headboard made from driftwood gathered at the local beach. Framed in metal, it weighed a tonne. When I came home from a grocery run, the three of them had wrangled it up two flights of stairs. 

We hadn’t been able to find one to fit our adjustable beds and this one was just what I wanted, complete with Easter eggs, unexpected treasures, many found on a beach. There’s sand and stones, pebbles and shells, including a scallop shell (still to be added) in commemoration of our pilgrimages on the Camino de Santiago.

There’s a cut crystal, like a jewel you might find in a treasure chest.

For continuity in design, it’s similar to the ones we’ve used as drawer pulls in our house and for bathroom wall hooks:

I love the rainbows they project with the afternoon sun. More magic from C’s workshop.

You can tell by the clouds

You can tell by the clouds that the weather is changing. That can be good or bad, depending on your location. Lakefront camping gave us a good view of the prognostic skies. 

Yes, things changed. The winds whipped up as the temperatures rose. Although the heat felt lower than it actually was, we were unable to keep our awning extended for sun protection and were no longer able to cook or eat outside. The gale coated us, and everything else, with sand. Father's Day morning saw our sweet potato waffle production move inside our tiny trailer. Not what I had in mind, but it was still delicious. 

After ten days we packed up, excited to return home for the first reunion with one of our children after a long year. M and KC came in from Calgary to enjoy the house while we were gone. So much pandemic dreariness dispensed with in an instant, the second we saw them!

Our post camping challenge was coping with the Pacific Northwest heatwave. Air conditioning is not a thing here. Living by the water it always cools down in the evening. Until now. When building our house we questioned the expense of roughing in central a/c and were told it was good for resale. Now were glad to have the option given the way global warming is progressing.

Meals were planned that didn’t involve generating kitchen heat. KC took his turn at our favourite pizza recipe, cooked outside on the gas grill.

The clouds shifted again, and it quickly went from a record setting 38C (100.4) to 22C (71.6F), far more comfortable. Outside cooking migrated back into the kitchen, where simultaneously being created were homemade pasta, waffles and two batches of sugar free butter rum ice cream, one with cherries and the other, pineapple. 

 

Real life summer adventure

Not the adventures in my painting brain, as described in my last post. We welcomed the summer with a camping trip. Finally allowed out of our health region, we packed our double vaccinated selves into the car and trailer, and off we went over the mountains, to Osoyoos, Canada’s only desert.

 

Consistent with that title, it’s the hottest spot, temperature wise, and has the warmest lake in the country. It’s also the wine capital of BC, reminiscent of the Napa Valley.

 

High winds kicked up the surf on the lake so our waterfront campsite felt like we might be camping in Mexico or Hawaii. Listening to the waves at night, and inland gulls during the day, it was hard to believe we weren’t by the ocean. The sunsets were on par with those more exotic destinations. 

 

 

 

Day were spent reading, painting and exploring the area by bike, allowing ourselves two visits to winery tasting rooms per outing. It felt like a dream after so many months of isolation.

 

To be continued...