Vanessa's week in Parksville

Miki continued her physio after arriving home in Parksville, this time at Trillium Lodge, an extended care facility with an out patient physio department.











She works hard there twice a week, and does her daily exercises as well, so is progressing really well. No more walker, no more cane.....just gentle exercise, extra strength Tylenol a couple of times a day, and better every day.












Vanessa came up for her riding camp week, and enjoyed taking Chiik for his walks around the house while she was here.









We went to the Tuesday evening market one night, and were able to buy her a new bike at the local bike shop, so Jonah now gets the one we bought her last summer, which is the perfect size for him now. This one is going to be turqoise when we finish with it - pink is just not Nessa's colour any more.....:-)










One evening we went skating at the local rink. Miki was our official photographer, of course.....she is not that much better.















I had not been on ice skates for a hundred years (well, maybe 20), and Nessa had fun pushing me around the rink, but by the time we left after an hour and a half, I had gotten much better.








The Bluebird Riding School is an awesome place for kids. Nessa goes for 5 days, 9 - 3 each day, and rides, mucks stalls, learns about tack, biology, animal health and even got to do some vaulting, which she does every week in Victoria.

Canada Day!

We left Victoria post surgery on Canada Day, and Mary Lois displays the fabulous flag capes she bought to go sing Jenny and Sharon Oh Canada! A good 20 people showed up to cheer Jenny and continue the tradition.
















After we got home, I donned my cape and got ready to go to a Canada Day party in Parksville.

















Pretty cool, EH.....????















We were invited via this coming winter's house sitters, to attend Howie Meeker's annual bash in Parksville, which also honoured Howie on his receiving of the Order of Canada for all his work in broadcasting, hockey and humanitarian work.







Over 250 people showed up to wish him well and congratulate him on his Order, and it was a beautiful day, so the lawn was set up with catered appies and snacks and a bar.











The group was diverse - people from all walks of life and many from Howie's media background.










Views from the deck were lovely.......













and people sat outside, inside and on both the front and back yards.













A sunroom was a poplular spot to chat......












The kitchen was a busy place with caterers keeping everyone fed and happy.....











The oceanside den is a favourite place for Howie and Leah to while away the hours.












A jazz trio played in the living room...............












The garden beds were ready to start veggies, but it has been such a cool spring, they were not yet in.....











The back yard and decks were full of happy guests. It was a wonderful party, which Miki had to miss this year, as it was only a week after her surgery.

KATIA!!!!

The newest member of our extended family is Katia, daughter of Marnie Kim and Amaury. She was 5 months old when this was taken in June, and is a gorgeous girl.










Katia, ate, slept, gurgled, burped, smiled and visited.












She is a very mellow little thing - gentle energy and very interested in the world around her.











Great god mother Daf fell in love.......













so we had to have lots of cuddles.......
















she enjoyed getting to know Miki, too......


















and doesn't Marn look amazing.....motherhood certainly suits her!

















It was so good to see Marn and finally meet little Katia, who was born while we were in Mexico.

Visits in Victoria

The week after Miki's surgery on June 24, we stayed at Mary Lois's gorgeous condo on the Gorge waterway. Lots of great things to watch, like seals, ferry boats, rowers, paddlers, kayakers, herons, seagulls...very healing.








Vanessa and family came for a visit there, and Nessa decided to compose some music on Mary Lois's keyboard....she got right into it.











Then they discovered they could just pick a song and it would play it, so Jonah and Vanessa danced themselves silly to the music.











Andrew and Jutta spent some quiet time on the deck enjoying the sun and the views.....












and there is nothing like the love of family to help heal the body and soul.

Culture in Parksville....

The Victoria-based Starlight Pops choir did a concert in our town last weekend. Friends of ours - Robin, Sheila, Anne and Kevin were all in the choir.













There was a little quartet who sang a couple of sweet harmonies....unfortunately they ended just as I snapped this pic.











After the concert, Maggie, Ingrid, Sandy, Gladys, Sheila and Anne came back to our place for some snacks and wine.











As you can see, the 3 cats are very happy to have us home....! They were not allowed to sleep with our house sitters, so are thrilled to have their Moms back so they can sleep with us again. Here they join Daf who is watching TV.








A few days before that we helped Maggie celebrate her birthday at the Qualicum Beach Golf Club restaurant. Great food, great views, and great friends!








Maggie and Ingrid are adding a "bonus room" on their house.....going to be gorgeous with her treatment room, another bathroom and walk in closet. Now the guest room can be both that and Maggie's crafts room, and clients will have their own entrance to the treatment room above.

Show and Shine in Parksville

Every June the classic car owners put on a show and starts with a parade of all the cars right down our street. We always set up our chairs, invite some friends, and have appies and wine while we wave and cheer on all the drivers.











We had Terri, Larry, Mario, Murielle, Michele, Miki and a neighbour from the park and her Mom with us.













After the parade finished, we did supper on the barby, and sat in the sunroom on the deck to enjoy the last of a lovely day.










Murielle took this one so your trusty blogger could be in the pic. Such a fun night!