Nanoose Bay

Did a little drive about this morning at Nanoose Bay. This beach is within walking distance of the mall, where we also had an amazing lunch at the Elevate restaurant!










Lovely small stone beach area, with beautiful views of the bay.








Another beach access at Nanoose.....very private and nice. Can't wait to get back and go for a picnic down here.








As you get higher on Nanoose Hill, the views get even more spectacular. It really is a very pretty area, and only 10 minutes from Parksville.

Dear friends......

Heather and Georgette came over on Monday, picked us up and we all went off to Coombs for lunch at Goats on the Roof. Dear friends from so many years ago in Nelson, and we are all so glad to be in the same hood now on the west coast.






Today we went to Pacific Shores and spent time with 2 other dear friends, Sharon and Jenny, who are staying there for a week.




We started out in the big hot tubs surrounded by rocks.....




Then moved to the point, where the hot tub is right on the beach, with lovely views.








Jenny and Sharon in the Point hot tub. What an amazing year they have had, and journey they are on. We will miss them but look forward to seeing them when we get home.

Halloween in Parksville

Masks donned, we handed out candies to one group of kids and then headed off to dinner at Terri and Larry's.......

Yikes.........who is that masked woman, anyway...................?????

Stopped by Ingrid and Maggie's to see these lovely 2 witches scaring their own neighbourhood kids..................

Then Lar had his head lamp on so he could see to barbeque outside and Ter cooked up a wonderful dish of cabbage, potatoes, onions and black beans.

Guess it took 2 of them to check the temp on the stove...!

But it was all worth it in the end - an amazing dinner with sweet potatoes, the cabbage dish and fabulous salmon. Thanks you two - it was a wonderful evening!!

Good bye, darlings!

Got to spend a couple of hours with Jutta, Vanessa and Jonah today at the Esquimalt Lagoon.

Then it was into their halloween costumes and off to a party at Jonah's tai kwon do school!

Ninja boy and cat girl!!!!

Andrew joined us so we 3 adults got to go have an adult dinner at Columbo's while the kids partied.

Finally, it was time to say good bye.....oh, dear!!! We will miss our family so much over the next few months. Thank goodness they are coming down in March to visit!!!!!

cat walking....

A visit to Sheila and Anne's, and each kid got to walk a cat.....these 2 beauties came from Thailand and are wonderful friendly cats who love to walk on their leashes.
Vanessa has Misha......

And Jonah has Ursula...................

Back to Gwen and Robin's we had a big family dinner, watched a movie and had a jammy party.

Kids loved watching all the birds at the feeders - including a greedy squirrel. Next morning it was up early, off to German school for Vanessa and off to his Oma's for Jonah. Great day with our darlings!

Cadboro playground

Right on the beach, there is a "ship" with lots of fun play areas inside and out.

Then there is the great blue whale........

And Caddy, the Cadboro Bay sea monster.......

And a fine red octopus.............!

Pool and beach

After lunch we went to the Oak Bay Rec Centre, jam packed with kids, as it was a Pro D district wide. Lots of fun!

Then off to Cadboro Bay to the beach and playground! The forecasted rain never did appear, so we enjoyed the sun and sand!

Lots of families, dogs and walkers enjoying a lovely October afternoon.

This playground has been here since my kids were little, and is just as loved now as it was then.