dogs, cats and cottages

Please say hello to Stewie, a puppy mill rescue dog who my friends Terri and Larry have been fostering. Stewie went to his new forever home last week and is now happily ensconsed in Courtenay!








Little Chiik had another visit to the cottage and loves it there - actually, he is happy anywhere he is, including in the car.








He loves to watch out the window at all the birds and huge trees.









2nd Cousin Rachelle is the new occupant of the cottage in East Sooke. We are so happy to still have the place in the family and we know she will love it there.

Ball and cottage

Son Jason was assistant coach for the ball team with coach Cory, so they were up early each day and at the ball field from about 7 am on each day.


Amber's cousin Vanessa came to a couple of games, but this 9 year old tom boy would rather climb trees than sit in the stands and watch ball.


Jason was due for a long nap at the cottage after the tournament was over.......



And Chiik took advantage of that and snuggled up at the other end of the blanket....!

It was a nice weekend at the cottage, but bittersweet as we pass it on to my cousin for safe keeping.

Softball on the Island

Grand daughter Amber, middle, was in a tournament this weekend here in Langford, for the 14 - 16 year old Bantam league she plays in.

Sadly, the Richmond Islanders didn't win a single game, but there was good team spirit and the weather was mostly sunny.



Here is Amber as catcher - she also plays 3rd base sometimes as well.


Her at bats were good - she can really hit the ball!!!



Here is the whole team - good work, Islanders!! Better luck next time.

Cats and treatys

Grand kids' cat, Felix, was just a kitten when we left, but here he is, all grown up and even more gorgeous than before. We tried introducing him to Chiik but he just growled and hissed, so he is too big to still play like a kitten.



He went out to commune with a deer fawn instead, and they are obviously friends.




Sitges, Chiik and Dax continue to get to know each other - here, they are each having a snort of cat nip, which mellowed them all out and was very funny to watch.



Chiik and I are now back in Sooke at the cottage and went to a hearing for our local First Nations band explaining how the treaty process is going. It was very interesting, but patience is the word of the hour. At least 3 - 5 years before it will be signed, and it has already been 16 years....sigh!

A 360 Party!

These 3 lovely women - Mary Lois, Lee and Elaine - all turned 60 this year, so what better way to celebrate than invite all your mutual friends and have a party!









The cake is a great story. It was made by a 12 year old girl who is part of a fundraising group who make a cake for the cost of the ingredients and then make a donation to the charity of the person getting the cake.

Wonderful program - and it was a wonderful cake, too!!!!!




It was great to see old friends and share the celebration.








Lots of laughter, lots of fun, and in 2 weeks we go to a 5 person 65th joint celebration. Party on - now if it would only warm up!!!!!

Cottage time

Back at the cottage, they just HAD to go to the beach, so we played in the tide pools, examining all the sea aenenomes (sp?), barnacles, fish and tiny crabs.



Beach combing is always popular, and we end up with a bucket of treasures each time.


Chiik got to meet his first little kids and had a ball. They all played for 3 hours and were fast friends from the start. Parents Jutta and Andrew came for a burger supper and it was great to have a nice visit with the whole family.


Chiik now has 4 names - Latte, Chiik, Zoom (Jonah's name) and Siloh (Vanessa's). Poor guy will have multiple personalities.....! He was so great with them.

Have I mentioned how much I love being a Nana???? This is why we come back to Canada every year.

Swim time!

Jonah, now 5, is doing really well in his swim lessons, and has a ball.


Nice form, buddy!


Big sister Vanessa would rather read her book from the library than do just about anything.....:-)