The Laura Nyro version of Up On The Roof was my favourite song in the early 1970's. It represented an island of calm in a time of turmoil in my teenage life. Currently there's a lot going on up on the roof of the condo building across the street. We've been watching a family of…

It's amazing how much you can get done around the house when you have the time and nowhere to go. One major project was located literally around the house. We live on a small hillside lot above the beach. In keeping with our retirement plan, there is no lawn. We have a tiny front garden…

That’s what my 4 yr old grandson calls it. And he’s also very good at using his “hamitizer.” Here in BC we seriously followed our orders from the medical health officer. We strictly maintained our bubble of two, saving ourselves for the phase two allowable contact with six people, in anticipation of the visit from…

Do you know the first verse to Over the Rainbow? The song doesn't start with the word "Somewhere" as generally heard in popular versions. Here are the lyrics: “When all the world is a hopeless jumbleAnd the raindrops tumble all aroundHeaven opens a magic lane When all the clouds darken up the skywayThere's a rainbow…

i’m happy to report that the real estate closing was accomplished on June 1, two weeks early. Thanks to our determined niece, the place was sorted and packed up in two days. It was so frustrating not being there, but probably a good thing because I would have kept far more stuff. If there were…

While isolated, life continues busily around us. We didn't think it possible, but we managed to sell our beloved family vacation home of 29 years. What a whirlwind. We received a solid offer subject to inspection. I think this was the first inspection of any of the seven units in the building, age 43, at…

This is my favourite so far.  C emerged from his downstairs sawdusty lair with this – an accent river table for the living room made out of mahogany from built in shelves in our previous house and cherry wood from our place in Washington state.   I've been creating in the kitchen: chorizo and lentil…

Two more dogs in the Pandemic pet portrait series, both 8×10 watercolours. That makes six: Lola, Fifi, Maddie, JJ, and now, Zeppie and Missy. Zeppie Missy I’m not the only one being creative this pandemic. We are fortunate to be able to practice our passions on separate floors in the house. In other words we…

It's obvious by now, having completed nearly 1000 miles on the Camino de Santiago, I like to walk. The pandemic has added an adjustment to my walking habits. Remember PacMan? The little pac people would happily mozy along until a ghost appeared. Wacka wacka wacka wacka was playing in the background. The options were two: eat the ghost or…

Figuratively, not literally. Looking back on our last full day in Bali it brings back the joy of time with family and friends, mixed with huge anxiety resulting from the decision to return home or not. As our trip was shortened to nine days it was important to leave our immediate tourist area and see…