Makai, our wee grandson, loves Elmo from Sesame Street fame. Monday through Friday on the Treetop channel, "Elmo's World" comes on TV and I record it for him. He has an Elmo couch, an Elmo chair, Elmo books and Elmo toys doing all kinds of Elmo things. This morning I woke up at 4:00 AM with the Elmo's World theme song playing in my head. I think I am "Elmoed" out!
Today Karley and I went on a cleaning blitz of the house, preparation for the impending birth of baby # 2. While we cleaned, Grandpa took our wee grandson, Makai, to the Mission Leisure Centre for a swim. We have one little boy who would gladly spend the day in the pool if only he could stay awake that long. Grandpa had a hard time keeping him awake in the car on the way home and he fell fast asleep when he got home.
Everyday, our wee grandson, Makai has a nap which lasts from 11:00ish until 2:00ish.(Oh, to be young!)
Yesterday we went to Langley, BC, leaving home around 9:00 AM. We were having such a great morning and Makai was so good natured that we stayed there for lunch.
On our way home we took the Albion Ferry which had a three sailing wait. He fell asleep in the car and with the delay he managed to nap for almost two hours. It may not have been the most comfortable place to sleep, but as you can see, it really didn't matter!
You can always tell when Makai, our wee grandson, enjoys a meal...he wears it all over his face.Last night we enjoyed cheesecake with fresh raspberries and whipped cream and Makai gobbled it up. What wasn't on his face and hands made it into his tummy and he was one happy fellow!
Yesterday we went to Whonnock Lake near Mission to cool down and paddle in the kayak. At one point while we were drifting on the water, I was visited by the most beautiful, aqua coloured dragon-fly. As much as I wanted to capture his colour in a picture, he only allowed me a head shot and here it is!
Move over DeDutch...Suzie homemaker has arrived!
When my kids were little, (the youngest is now 27) during strawberry season, I would make crepes with berries and whipped cream, always a big hit. My due-any-day-now daughter asked me if I would make some for brunch today. Between her request and our wee grandson's needs (every little boy needs his Granni's treats), I broke down and made some.
DeDutch, a fabulous BC pancake house makes a slightly thicker version of a crepe and they are wonderful. I found a simple recipe for the dutch version in one of my many cookbooks and they were a big hit!
Nothing makes a little fellow happier than when he can help a grown-up do anything. Makai, our wee grandson, loved helping his grandpa do what Grandpa does best....clean and polish the wheels of the motorhome.And he was an AWESOME helper, too!
There is nothing like a sprinkler to amuse a toddler and Makai, our wee grandson, is no exception.
The weather here in Mission is beautiful right now with the forecast predicting nothing but sun for the next several days.
Methinks one little boy will be enjoying not only the sprinkler, but his wading pool as well.
What artwork have you encountered that is more beautiful than the stuff Mother Nature produces?
She is spontaneous, uses the resources at hand and can create a masterpiece at a moments notice.
Karley found this beautiful bit of Mother Nature's talent at the end of the driveway this morning.
As you may have read, I have been baking cookies...lots of them. It seems our wee grandson, Makai, and his grandpa aren't the only consumers because they are disappearing at an incredible speed. Of the 56 cookies I baked the other day, less than a dozen remain.
I guess that means they taste good (cookies always taste better when they are baked with love) and I know they are reasonably healthy because I try to use only the best ingredients.
At this rate, based on the length of time they last, I'll be baking cookies every other day to keep them in the house. Ah well, it's good for me to be busy especially doing something I love for the people I love!
Since my surgery in April, I haven't been able to do much in the way of exercise and I am beginning to feel AND see the effects. I am finally healed enough to get started again with something so I asked my saintly husband to retrieve our good old Nordic Trac from the trailer.
This morning I managed to do 10 minutes of "trakin", not bad considering how long I haven't done anything at all. I also spent the 10 minutes afterwards huffing and puffing, a sure sign that I am out of shape.
Tomorrow, it's 15 minutes, the next day 20 and so on until I get to 30 minutes a day, certainly a step in the right direction. As difficult as it may be, I am glad to be back on track again!
We are babysitting today and our wee grandson, Makai, has been hanging out with his Grandpa; "helping" him outside.While they have been busy outside, I (Granni) have been inside doing what grannys do best...baking. Today I baked double peanut butter cookies (peanut butter cookies with peanut butter chips). Fortunately, our little guy has no peanut allergies and he loves them. Unfortunately, Grandpa loves them too! It's hard to say how long they will last!
For Father's Day, Karley bought Ian this cute squirrel feeder.
It seems there are several little fuzzy-tailed rodents in the yard that will eat anywhere and we are hoping this will entice them to alter their dining habits! ......And prevent anymore of this!!
That is NOT the word that Rick likes to hear, especially when it is emanating from my mouth in regards to the car.
Today I attended a Reiki workshop in Port Coquitlam, about 40 km. from here. Because I wasn't 100% sure as to where I was going, I programmed the address into our Garmin GPS system (nicknamed Carmen) and away I went. At one multi-road, oddly-angled intersection I wasn't sure which way "Carmen" was telling me to go and at the last minute, I pulled over into a different lane.
It seems the wheel hit a curb that I didn't see until I felt the jolt and it left the tire with this lovely bulge. The rim is fine, no other damage anywhere else and nothing a new tire won't fix. To my relief, my saintly husband was so sweet; his only concern was that I was okay and that I arrived home safely.
On Wednesday, my saintly hubby decided to buy a birdfeeder to mount on the tree beside the motorhome. Sam, the cat, loves to sit on the window sill and watch as the birds (?) enjoy a feast...it's great entertainment! This morning as I was checking my email, I espied this little fella as he (she?) was also feasting on the bird's entree. I guess all is fair when it comes to Kitty TV!
We stopped at a small roadside stand across from the Abbotsford Costco today. The woman was selling freshly picked fruit; strawberries and raspberries and they looked good.
We like to support local farmers and our experience with them has always been positive. Sadly, today it was not so. Unlike the ones in this picture, we got home to find two thirds of the two-quart basket of strawberries to be so badly bruised that they were mushy and inedible.
I am pissed! It is evident by their condition that they were placed in the basket in a damaged state and a few good berries were put on the top to hide them. And she had a smile on her face when she took our money.......
One of the best things about being parked beside our wee grandson, Makai's, home is that he can visit us anytime.
For him, one of the many things he likes while visiting us in the motorhome is watching Elmo, his favourite Sesame Street character, up close and personal!
Sometimes I have to wonder what would we do without Elmo?
Yesterday I wrote that it seemed like my healthy husband was on the mend however, I may have written about his recovery prematurely.
In the wee hours of the morning he was up revisiting the nausea that he's been dealing with since Friday. Today, most of his day was spent either sleeping or debating whether or not throwing up would bring some relief. Man this is one nasty bug!
The sick alien that had captured my saintly husband's body and persona seems to have finally moved on!!
After being very ill for the past three days, my sweet husband has returned (though ever so gently) at last.This morning is the first time he has been able to keep any food in his stomach since Thursday so hopefully this means he is on the mend.
Our wee grandson Makai is very happy to have his Grandpa back!
Makai, our wee grandson is enjoying the new pool his mom bought for him last week. I took this pic as he was wandering around after getting out of the pool. How freeing it must be to waddle around as naked as can be!
While Rick was away, on Wednesday I went to Vancouver for two days and since I got back, I've been sleeping in the house at night to be near Makai. (see the webpage) Yesterday I picked Rick up at the airport and he and I came home.
My poor saintly husband has been very sick since he returned and has been pretty much in bed the whole time. You would think Sam the Cat would be happy to have him to cuddle up to but instead she is missing me! When I have a moment, I go to the motorhome to check on Rick and then Sam glues herself to me.
Here she is staring at me forlornly after I put her down from my arms. My little kitty is missing me!
Yesterday on our website, I mentioned that I had purchased a salt lamp for our expected second grandchild. Our friend Laura emailed me to find out what a salt lamp is... so Laura, this one's for you. (Again!!)
Crystal Salt lamps are made from salt crystal formed by nature hundreds of millions of years ago. They are mined 800 meters underground in salt mines. Every lamp is unique in its size and shape because they are hand carved, washed with water and dried in the sun to retain the natural shape and structure of the crystal salt.
The lamps are lit from within by a small light bulb causing them to glow with a natural orange color of salt. They are a perfect "night light" for a baby's room hence, my purchase and are said to refresh the air with negative ions creating a balanced, healthier environment.
Makai has one in his room, we have one in our motorhome and now, baby #2 has one!
It's 5:30 AM and I am sitting in an apartment on the 22nd floor in downtown Vancouver, BC. I have been awake for almost an hour watching as the lights of the surrounding buildings are beginning to fade and the sky is brightening. It is overcast; every so often I see a seagull swooping around and I can faintly hear the traffic. Call me crazy but even though typically, I am a nature enthusiast, there is something about this view and the sounds of the city that I find breathtaking and exciting.
And I know I am not alone with these feelings because there are millions of city dwellers who feel the same way. We humans are a strange breed!
Today I have gone into Vancouver to spend a couple of days with my son Jay. Because I wasn't in a hurry I decided to take the Albion Ferry to get there, a free service provided by the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority. (Rick and I discovered this ferry by chance the other night while driving to the airport.)
It runs 600 meters across the Fraser River to Fort Langley from Maple Ridge and holds about 18 cars at a time as well as a few motorcyclists, foot passengers and cyclists. The actual journey takes maybe five minutes but when it's busy the wait can be as much as 45 minutes, negating the shortened distance.
Today the weather was great, I had time to spare and I wanted to experience it in the sunshine. Another time when Rick is with me, we will explore and get some pictures of Fort Langley.
The weather is beautiful here right now and the forecast is calling for much of the same all week. I couldn't resist putting this picture on the Blog. Makai, our little grandson is decked out in his summer togs complete with a great hat for protecting his neck from the sun! He was content to play in the water from the hose while Granni was watering the garden, hence the wet spots on his shirt!
One of the slimy joys of west coast living is the presence of slugs...lots of them. Two years ago while we were on Vancouver Island, we encountered huge ones (I think they were called banana slugs) but here the ones we've seen so far are a lot smaller. (Whew!)
Everytime it rains (which so far is a lot) they come out in large quantities so we see an abundance of them. It means that in order to NOT "slipslide away", I make a point of looking down when I walk. Aren't they cute?
To "Blog" daily or not....that is my dilemma. Since we started fulltiming, I have journaled on our website daily. What started as a way for friends and family to find us has become a form of therapy for me and (to my surprise) entertainment for folks from around the world (for which, incidently, I am really grateful for).
I am a little slow, so was unaware of Blogger until much later into our roaming lifestyle. I experimented with Blogger, for the first time in December 2004 and twice more, each entry a year and a bit apart. Being the anal creature I am, once I started blogging here regularly, I have been making it a daily habit as well.
Now, I am wondering if I should just blog occasionally or continue with my daily musings, as boring as they may be. The good thing though about having a blog is that it is a place where I can chuck a picture or two when I experiment with my new camera and it is a place for me to play!!
What is it about bubbles that makes us relive our childhoods?
When I was little we just had a plastic ring which we stuck in a mixture of dish detergent and water. Makai has an assortment of bubble-making devices, some quite elaborate. The weather today is perfect for bubble making and we proceeded to use some of the bubble-makers to make some bubbles for Makai. Once we got started, I had to wonder who was being more entertained...the wee grandson or the adults?
Yesterday we drove into Vancouver and we decided to go to Granville Island for lunch. The Public Market there is a popular tourist attraction but we like all the dining choices offered.
It was a grey day and eventually it rained however I was able to take a few pictures before it did. This is a shot of the Yaletown/downtown Vancouver area taken from the marketplace.
When we decided to become "fulltimers", I dreamed of the day that I would have time to read whenever I wanted to. I presumed I would develop my meditation skills and my spiritual quest would become clearly defined. I thought I would go for long walks to explore nature and learn about the native plant and animal life.
Well, we have been living the "fulltimer" lifestyle since December of 2003 and I seem to run out of hours each day to accomplish those things I dreamed of. Yes, I do read books, but no more than I did while we lived a stationary life. I meditated more then too and my spiritual quest is in a holding pattern.
My life is full and those things I thought I would do just are not as necessary as I thought they were; my priorities have changed. It is what I do at the moment that is important and I try to stay in it for as long as I can to absorb every second. I have learned that the journey is way more important than the destination ever was and for that, I am deeply grateful!
Makai, our wee grandson, loves Elmo from Sesame Street fame. 
Today Karley and I went on a cleaning blitz of the house, preparation for the impending birth of baby # 2. While we cleaned, Grandpa took our wee grandson, Makai, to the Mission Leisure Centre for a swim. 
Everyday, our wee grandson, Makai has a nap which lasts from 11:00ish until 2:00ish.(Oh, to be young!)
You can always tell when Makai, our wee grandson, enjoys a meal...he wears it all over his face.
Yesterday we went to Whonnock Lake near Mission to cool down and paddle in the kayak. 
Move over DeDutch...Suzie homemaker has arrived!
Nothing makes a little fellow happier than when he can help a grown-up do anything. 
There is nothing like a sprinkler to amuse a toddler and Makai, our wee grandson, is no exception.
What artwork have you encountered that is more beautiful than the stuff Mother Nature produces?
As you may have read, I have been baking cookies...lots of them. It seems our wee grandson, Makai, and his grandpa aren't the only consumers because they are disappearing at an incredible speed. Of the 56 cookies I baked the other day, less than a dozen remain.
Since my surgery in April, I haven't been able to do much in the way of exercise and I am beginning to feel AND see the effects. I am finally healed enough to get started again with something so I asked my saintly husband to retrieve our good old Nordic Trac from the trailer.
We are babysitting today and our wee grandson, Makai, has been hanging out with his Grandpa; "helping" him outside.
For Father's Day, Karley bought Ian this cute squirrel feeder.
That is NOT the word that Rick likes to hear, especially when it is emanating from my mouth in regards to the car. 
On Wednesday, my saintly hubby decided to buy a birdfeeder to mount on the tree beside the motorhome. 
We stopped at a small roadside stand across from the Abbotsford Costco today. The woman was selling freshly picked fruit; strawberries and raspberries and they looked good.
One of the best things about being parked beside our wee grandson, Makai's, home is that he can visit us anytime. 
Yesterday I wrote that it seemed like my healthy husband was on the mend however, I may have written about his recovery prematurely.
The sick alien that had captured my saintly husband's body and persona seems to have finally moved on!!
Makai, our wee grandson is enjoying the new pool his mom bought for him last week. 
While Rick was away, on Wednesday I went to Vancouver for two days and since I got back, I've been sleeping in the house at night to be near Makai. (see the webpage) Yesterday I picked Rick up at the airport and he and I came home.
Yesterday on our website, I mentioned that I had purchased a salt lamp for our expected second grandchild. Our friend Laura emailed me to find out what a salt lamp is... so Laura, this one's for you. (Again!!)
It's 5:30 AM and I am sitting in an apartment on the 22nd floor in downtown Vancouver, BC. I have been awake for almost an hour watching as the lights of the surrounding buildings are beginning to fade and the sky is brightening. It is overcast; every so often I see a seagull swooping around and I can faintly hear the traffic. 
Today I have gone into Vancouver to spend a couple of days with my son Jay. Because I wasn't in a hurry I decided to take the Albion Ferry to get there, a free service provided by the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority. (Rick and I discovered this ferry by chance the other night while driving to the airport.)
The weather is beautiful here right now and the forecast is calling for much of the same all week. 
One of the slimy joys of west coast living is the presence of slugs...lots of them. Two years ago while we were on Vancouver Island, we encountered huge ones (I think they were called banana slugs) but here the ones we've seen so far are a lot smaller. (Whew!)
What is it about bubbles that makes us relive our childhoods?
Yesterday we drove into Vancouver and we decided to go to Granville Island for lunch. The Public Market there is a popular tourist attraction but we like all the dining choices offered.
When we decided to become "fulltimers", I dreamed of the day that I would have time to read whenever I wanted to. I presumed I would develop my meditation skills and my spiritual quest would become clearly defined. I thought I would go for long walks to explore nature and learn about the native plant and animal life.
