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.....:-)

Nana time!

Finally got to spend time with these 2 darlings on Friday! Picked Vanessa and Jonah up at school, did a quick turn at the playroom at McDonalds, then the playground.



Jonah communing with a dinosaur.....



Beautiful park, beautiful kids.....:-)



Here they are again, hanging around. Then we did a library stop before heading to the pool for Jonah's swimming lesson.

Giving Voice

Got to the cottage late afternoon Thursday, got Chiik all settled in, and then dashed into town to hear Giving Voice, a wonderful women's choir led by Linda Mills. It was a awesome, elcectic concert with great variety and lovely harmonies.


Having sung with Musaic many years, it is always nice to see familiar faces both on and off stage, and have the opportunity to sing along.


This 3 year old choir is having lots of fun and providing lots of joy and humour to the community!

On the road again

Now Chiik is off to the cottage for the weekend!

He started out in his carrier and then started talking about wanting to come out, so wandered around the car, helped Miki navigate through Nanaimo, and then went back into his carrier and slept the rest of the way - despite a big group of Harleys that went by!

Mother's day!!!

Miki has been down with a terrible cold (is it any wonder - it hasn't gotten above 15 since we got home!) so we settled for a nice walk along Parksville's new boardwalk on the beach.


From one beach town to another, and when the summer finally hits, this is the most glorious place. Because the tide goes out so far, it makes for wonderful beach combing, and when the water comes in, it is very warm.



The new boardwalk opens officially next week, but is a great place for kids, dogs, wheelchairs, and walkers, with lots of easy access to the sand along the way.



Yah, despite the cool temps, it is so good to be home!!!

Home at last!

Chiik is settling in very nicely - loves all the space to run and windows to look out.


Sitges was initially pretty hissy with him.....but they have touched noses several times now and the hissing is few and far between. He really is a kitten and just wants someone to play tag with.



Much better - as long as Sitges is on TOP!!! Chiik had never seen a scratching post, either, so is loving the ones here at home.


Dax is being a grumpy old dowager, but even she is getting used to having a little brother. It is going to take some time, but they will all be friends sooner than later.