A lovely sendoff

Maggie and Ingrid picked us up with our mountain of luggage and then swept us off to a very special place for lunch in Nanaimo, the Calico Cat!










A totally charming place where we not only had an amazing lunch, we all had a tea leaf reading by a very talented and perceptive psychic. Lots of wonderful china sets on display, great gifty things and great staff.







Maggie and Ingrid enjoying the wonderful lunch.









All the luggage is down the shoot at the BC Ferries and we have one last hug before we board. Goodbye, dear friends - see you on December 6!!!

Leaving Parksville

Chiik says......awwww.....can't I come too.......???! All the cats have been in and out of the luggage over the last few days and just KNOW something is up!









Eventually, of course, sleep wins out and Chiik has to have a cat nap!








Murielle and Mario are our housesitters this year - such a nice couple originally from Quebec. The cats like them and we know they will take good care of our little home.







The day we left Parksville, the snow on the mountains behind us were dusted with fresh snow.....time to get the heck out of here!!!!!

Furever After fun!

Saturday night we joined another group of friends to attend a fundraiser for Furever After, an organization that rescues small dogs and finds homes for them. Larry and Michele check out Michele's winnings (there were prizes, gift bags and a silent auction!

Barry and Linda from Nanaimo were at our table, also owners of rescue dogs.......then Ray and son Scott, and Ray is the proud owner of a rescue dog,.....and Miki and Terri, and Ter and Lar now have TWO rescue dogs............Michele and Bill so far have no dogs, as Bill is allergic....while mother and son Jason enjoy a moment after an amazing buffet dinner. Seems like all we did all weekend was eat.....!!!!! .

Farewell lunches!

Friday Maggie and Ingrid hosted a fabulous lunch with our Parksville pals, and I am sure we all left there 5 pounds heavier.....wow! Great food, great friends - see you in May (except for Maggie and Ingrid who are coming to visit us in PM)!!



Sunday Helen and Rick drove all the way up from Victoria just to take us out for a goodbye lunch at the Beach Club!! It was so great to see everyone before we leave and we will miss them during the winter months.

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!!