Life's a Stitch

High on creativity, low on funds

The title is the recipe for the best birthday surprise given to me by my son. We recently were talking about how much we miss our Gracee dog and that, although it's not likely we'll be able to get another one, there is still room for a Scottie in my life. Grand-scotties are also not feasible right now, so we brainstormed. Perhaps I could be a vacation sitter for a local Scottie, but how to find one. Meanwhile Bryant's wheels were turning scheming up something for my birthday. This is what unfolded:

1. He googles Scotties in our city and found comments for a local bed and breakfast where guests were greeted by the resident Scottie dog. He called the b&b to find the dog deceased and the establishment under new ownership. Kind new proprietor contacted the former owners.

2. B is put in touch with Ruth who explains that although Tosh was indeed deceased, she still had two Scotts in her house, Taegan and Torri.

3. On Sunday I had a birthday massage scheduled, ending at 3:15. A call from the boy indicated he needed a ride home from the nearby location at the same time.  We meet, and although it's pouring with rain he suggests we do a geocache, another of my passions, located in a park, a three minute walk away.

4. Walking to the park, B says the name of the cache is Torri's Stash. I'm thinking, gee I haven't heard of that one, must be new. He is doing a good job of geo-faking, pretending to use his phone's GPS. Once at the park I see two Scottie dogs on leash and go into my usual Scottie enthusiasm. "Bryant, Bryant, Scotties, let's go pet the Scotties!"

5. "Mom, meet Torri the geocache, Happy Birthday!" He had a arranged a playdate with Scotties and their sweet owners who invited us to their place for tea and Scottie company. Lovely people and their dogs, and in our lives' ever increasing six degrees of separation moments, found that she had a business relationship for over 25 years with the dad of B's movie co-producer. In fact she remembers the day Joel was born! 

Can you imagine getting call from a perfect stranger wanting you to share your dogs with his Scottie starved Mom? Thank you Bryant, Ruth, Rex, Tory and Tegan.

Look at this noble Scott:

Dear Bryant proves that with a bit of creativity, the best things in life are free.


 

Springtime = New Beginnings

Although disappointed for not having been discharged from Occupational Therapy only three months after my surgery, the OT, noticing the necessity of further development of the fine motor skills of my hand, has recommended, wait for it....knitting. He noticed my Summer Flies scarf and asked if I was a knitter. Yes, as a matter of fact, I AM a knitter, and although I've not been prolific in recent times, I do have ten years worth of blog posts to prove it.

This Spring in Vancouver has been spectacular. Sorry, Easterners, here in the Pac NW, Spring has sprung a month or more ahead of schedule. The early rhododendrons were blooming at the end of January. This being my birthday weekend, quince is the only shrub that's normally in bloom north of the 49th parallel. On my lunchtime walk this week I counted 22 different flowers and blossoms. 

Vancouver's cherry blossoms were the subject of this week's watercolour class:

Countdowns x 3

An accurate description of our lives right now: the final moments before a significant event and the procedures carried out during this time.

In chronological order:

1. May: The big R's, retirement for both of us. This was a big and scary decision, but it feels very good. Fretting for years regarding a retirement without a pension I came to the conclusion we are not going to starve and will make do with what we have. Plus we've saved for some exciting travels in the first years.

2. August: A grand announcement - Elina and Sean are expecting baby #2, a sibling for three year old grandson, Rye.

3. September: The culmination of years of dreaming, planning and training - our trek on the Camino de Santiago. We're going to give it an honest try anyway. Unable to carry a traditional backpack due to a previous neck injury, we found these Aarn body packs, designed to distribute the weight all around your waist, no pressure on the shoulders at all. The two front pouches are dubbed "the Pamelas," by guys no doubt.

So much to look forward to.