Life's a Stitch

Wifi, finally, so here starts coverage of our big down under adventure: a four day trek on New Zealand’s Queen Charlotte Track followed by a 15 day cruise around NZ then over to Australia.

I was so apprehensive about the hike, given that the plan was to fly 14 hours on Oct 29, on the red eye to Auckland, followed by a four hour layover and another two hour flight to Blenheim, have a night’s sleep and hike a steep 15k the very next day, jet lag and all. I generally don’t sleep on planes, but luckily, if available, Air NZ puts remaining higher class seats on auction and notifies you of your success just prior to the flight. Three hours ahead we found out we were lucky auction “winners” and what a difference that made.

It wasn’t business class with the sleeping pods, but the in between premium section that reminds me of old fashioned first class – larger roomy leather seats with fuller recline and foot rests, nice food and wine. It was well worth the difference to be able to rest and even get some sleep. When you think, though, that we crossed the international date line which made us skip a day, the time difference is only five hours albeit on different days. Totally confusing, eh? So, if it’s noon here on Wednesday, it’s 5:00pm at home, only at home it’s Tuesday, and since every day is Saturday in retirement, what difference does it make what day it is? The point is we were in good shape for the next day’s hike.

At the Auckland Airport our hiking equipment was inspected for potential items harmful to NZ’s environment: seeds, insects… They are making a conscious effort to bring the country back to its original natural state, free from foreign predators and invasive plants species. My boots were given a complimentary bath, returned to me in pristine condition, free of any spores from our recent mushroom hunting back home.

In Blenheim we picked up our ride to Picton, driving past the famous Marlborough vineyards and in the distance, green hills dotted with sheep. We checked into our motel with kitchenette and hit the grocery store for last minute hiking provisions and dinner ingredients: lamb leg steaks, asparagus, pre-prepared risotto and a bottle of NZ wine.

 

Amazing what you can do with one frying pan and fresh local ingredients. So ended our super long 24 or was that a 48 hour day? In the morning the plan is to catch the early water taxi to Ships Cove, Captain Cook’s favourite resting spot and the start of the Queen Charlotte Track.

A direct flight from the Pacific Northwest leaving on a fall evening, arrives 14 hours later in New Zealand, but it's spring, and the calendar tells us it's two days later. Tricky thing when you cross the dateline and land in another hemisphere. C and I are on the last segment of our time as drifters before reality sets in regarding the budget and timing of our house rebuild.

We're on our way to our sixth continent, the only one remaining on my map of geocaching destinations being Antarctica. That one, so far, hasn't made my  travel dream list, but who knows?  This trip to Australia and New Zealand has been at the top of the list for many years. It's a good thing we booked non-refundable fares prior to discovering recent un-budgeted cost overruns on the house, but that's another story that I'll gladly avoid for now.

Not sure it was going to happen, for awhile there, as C was scheduled for his 2nd followup CT angiogram in the eight years post bypass surgery. Such good news – no changes in his arteries for the past five years. He's cleared for travel and we're on our way. The first stop will be a five day adventure tramping (NZ Verb: the recreational activity of going for long-distance walks in rough country) on the Queen Charlotte Track, located on New Zealand's south island. Next is a two week cruise around New Zealand, ending with four ports in Australia. 

I'll blog when I can, otherwise it's a three week break. For now, I leave you with a misty autumn painting of the Cascade mountains. It's been an exceptionally beautiful, colourful fall here in the Pacific Northwest.

 

M & KC received their wedding proofs at the same time she received the surprise photo book that we made of the unbeknownst to them behind the scenes photo booth. Each room in the inn had a large jacuzzi tub positioned right in the middle of the bedroom. As much socializing took place in-room, the tub became overflow, so to speak, seating. As one of their friends was sitting on the edge of the tub he accidentally slipped in. A photo was snapped and thus began the wedding photo booth. KC's mom was an excellent wrangler getting people to participate throughout the weekend.

The later the night went on, the more "creative" were the pictures, 40 in all.

If you want to see more you'll have to come visit us or M&KC, laughter is guaranteed.

Now for some official proofs, thanks to Cocktail Pbotography for preserving these wonderful memories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The local Hotel Bellwether describes its surroundings:

The Bellingham area has an embarrassment of natural riches, and it’s all about location, location, location. In a single day it’s possible to beachcomb, wander a rainforest, take in a glacier, and still make it to town for fresh-from-the-boat seafood.

After a morning of torrential rain, it cleared enough for us to hike the rain forest, bringing back memories of our North Vancouver trails. We got deep enough into the woods for that luxurious quiet you seldom find near the city. No sounds of vehicles, planes, or even barking dogs, just total silence.

The trees were covered in their mossy coats.

The mushrooms were thriving.

Tiny ones in a stump’s notch looked like a miniature fairyland.  Notice the penny placed for scale.

Damp leaves have their own beauty. I’ve sold both my spider web/leaf paintings and I found leaf models to create new ones.

The chill of the autumn afternoon was perfect for cooking soup.

 Yellow Curry Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:

3 T olive oil

2 potatoes sliced thin
2 peeled tomatoes chopped
2 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 quartered onion
7 carrots
1 or 2 zucchini
1T grated fresh ginger
Curry flavour: 1t hot curry powder or 1 T mild curry powder or equivalent curry paste

2qts chicken broth

1 can coconut milk

Procedure:

Sauté veggies and spices in the olive oil until it just starts to brown.

Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until veggies are very soft.

Either blend w/ immersion blender or use a regular blender.

Add coconut milk and heat on medium low until hot enough to serve.

Makes about 4 qts.

We usually served it with scoops of cooked ancient grains.

 

 

Years ago we bought a vacation condo, just over the border in the state of Washington; about 26 years ago. As per advice we received prior to purchasing a vacation property, it has not realized a substantial increase monitarily over the years, but the value has been in the experience.

It always felt like the trees lining the community of Sudden Valley's driveway served as a filter for life's burdens. Leave your troubles at the entrance and pick them up when you leave; the time in between being somewhat carefree. 

Located on Lake Whatcom, 12 miles long, there are two little beaches in our community named for their sun exposure in the morning and afternoon, AM and PM beaches. If ever asked to imagine my happy place, this was it:

The deer roam freely. When we were here shopping for a property with our realtor, he jokingly commanded "Queue the deer," and sure enough out pranced a mom with two speckled fawns. Yesterday on our walk around the smaller lake, we spotted eleven of them. 

Made up of seven units we became friends with the other owners and Camp Heatherbrook has watched as the children have grown. One unit is now on its second generation of family ownership, in turn enjoyed by their kids and grandchildren – third and fouth generations of Camp Heatherbrookers.  It's a magical place for the kids, allowing them the freedom to roam safely in nature. Our crew and the neighbours, 25 years ago:

We've assumed a variety of roles. Chuck, a former executive director of a summer camp was designated as director, and I as the relief cook at said summer camp, am the Heatherbrook cook. Time in the kitchen is enjoyable so its a role I've filled enthusiastically. Blogless Marsha's David is the property manager, extending his real role in life, and Marsha is my "disher," the camp term for sous chef and cleaner upper. She and I also fill the role of craft coordinator with our knitting and my painting, both of us currently working on shawls, Marsha, an Easy Pie Wedge shawl and me, a Drachenfels, utilizing long stashed 100% cashmere laceweight yarn.

Last week was was Blogless M's birthday, and bouillabaise was on the menu. The other Heatherbrook campers joined us for Pavlova birthday cake.

As we will soon be moving to our new house, close by, but back on the northern side of the border, the time has come to think about giving up our share in Camp Heatherbrook. A wonderful place, it might be time though, to let someone else have a chance to enjoy it.

 

 

Warning: this post has formatting issues beyond my control. Typepad's numbering system gets messed up once you insert a picture. I give up trying to fix it. Apologies.

Years ago I managed the positive mental health aspect of a public school system continuing education AKA lifetime learning AKA edutainment program. I'm a firm believer that you never stop learning and should benefit by the acquisition of knowledge, intentional or not. Well, this major renovation has been an educational opportunity par excellence. Granted it's a course in First World Problems.

What I've learned to date:

1. It's difficult to keep track of our stuff given that it is in storage in four five locations. A tarped stored vehicle counts as a storage unit.
2. A contractor's approach to the buying process is different from mine. Example: you are taken to a plumbing fixture supplier with no visible price tags and told don't worry, you get our discount. Then the estimate arrives. I would much prefer to be told the price of items in advance and shop accordingly.
3. The budgeting process in the building world is much different from the non-profit universe, where I spent 39 years of my life. In my professional role I used to write multiple page grant applications worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, so my hackles were up at an estimate that was entitled "proposal." Beware the nine page "proposal" for low voltage electrical items, which were budgeted at $4,000, and came in at $13,000. Really? 
4. It's bad enough that we don't know where items are in storage, but when Chuck wakes up unsure of his location… We have stayed in eight locations since the end of May. OK I'll give the guy a break. Here are some recent photos of our stay in West Vancouver, apartment/kitty sitting for our Camino Pal, Denise. The first is the Capilano River shrouded in the smoke of BC's forest fires:

Sunset at Park Royal Mall on our way for a Five Guys burger:

Watching the ships go by from Denise's balcony. Who knew that Disney cruise ships, when leaving port, sound horns that play "When You Wish Upon A Star" ?

          5. You can teach an old dog new tricks AKA maybe it is possible to outgrow cat allergies. Here is C sharing some kitty lovin'. His words: take a picture because you may never see this again. She was an easy cat to love. Plus that crystal kitty litter makes life with a feline a pleasant, non-stinky experience.

          6. "On the fly" costs money. When a builder suggests that it's easy to make adjustment during the building process rather than planning ahead,      someone's got to pay for it, one guess who?

         7. There are bound to be mistakes. Expensive mistakes. So many decisions concentrated in a short period of time. The house was framed, but we    didn't note the window placement. We bit the bullet and agreed to pay for a new larger window so I could see out one side of the house. 

         8. No house doesn't mean no stash. We creative types still manage to amass supplies despite no place to put them. Yarn, art materials, they fit in a Rubbermaid. But a woodpile? C did a good job of building a shed and sealing away his wood stash in preparation for our move. But during our recent stay in West Vancouver I noticed weatherbeaten boards occupying a place next to our car. So much that it required a special trip to the woodshed, an hour each way, for storage. West Vancouver was paradise for a beachcomber.

         9 . Denial doesn't work. How many of you told me that building projects never come in on time? You are correct. I really really believed that we      could be in our house for a family Christmas. Magical thinking that was. We're working on January.

       I'm not complaining, some life lessons are harder than others, but I know they turn out well in the end.

 

A double entendre, what could this post be about? Flavours or colours?

The picture gave it away, it's about the colour, blending red and yellow. When we're together, daughter Mari, cousin Lene and I take time to do online painting tutorials. In Calgary we did a fall scene, mixing a variety of proportions of red and yellow, choosing a spot for a light background and adding a variety of tree trunks. 

When I showed it to my friend, Denise, who we met on the Camino, she pointed out that we had passed that scene while hiking. She showed me a photo she had taken in Spain and sure enough there was a resemblance. I thought I was painting the tutorial subject, and adding a bit from my imagination, but what I added was a treasured experience buried in my memory. 

Denise is currently on a part of the Camino Portugues, that C and I did last year. This year we've had to stay close to home while the house is under construction, but after two consecutive years of Camino walking, it felt as though something was missing. We've remedied that with plans for a shorter hike in New Zealand in the fall, and Denise and I are planning the Canadian version of the Camino together in June, 400 km. 

 

Last fall I wrote about the animals we encountered while walking the Camino de Santiago Portuguese route.

Our current lifestyle, hopping here and there, leaves no room for pets of our own. Although we loved our animals dearly, there is a freedom that comes with not thinking about getting home for the dog, or who's on late night walk duty. It's sort of like loving your children, but realizing there will be no more of your own. In our year of drifting though, some special creatures have played a role in our lives. 

This is a very pregnant Pepper, a Belgian Shepherd, close to her due date. She was the house dog at the very interesting Air B&B where we stayed near our construction project during its framing stage. One day we woke up to find that there were now 14 Belgian Shepherds occupying the house, equalling weightwise, about a peck and a half of Pepper puppies.

My son-in-law commented that they looked like a drawer full of socks.

The other residents were ten week old kittens:

That accommodation included 100 blueberry bushes, in season, where you could pick and eat to your heart's content. There were equal quantities of raspberries, strawberries and peas. 

Besides the human actors on our most recent day of work on set, there were two dogs. I wonder what they were getting paid? This one deserved a bonus for personality.

And now we're kitty sitting dear Miso, while her mistress is trekking on the Camino Portugues.

That is one easy going little cat.

 

 

Vancouver is known as Hollywood North, as the Canadian dollar and landscape variety lend itself to reasonable film production. Within the Vancouver area production companies can shoot city scenes to rural settings within a half hour drive at a 25% discount as compared to the US dollar. 

When I retired I was asked what I was going to do? Many people told me of my potential to work as a consultant in the nonprofit field, given my years in management. Retirement means no work I'd reply. But, lo and behold, work in some form or  another, seems to find me. I've done some helping out other non-profit managers and I've sold my pantings and taken on an occasional commission. The one I wasn't prepared for was the work Chuck and I have secured in the film industry as skilled extras.

There is a demand for extra work here in Vancouver. Paying higher than minimum wage, it's an interesting way to spend a 12 hour day and the food is fantastic. Possessing a skill in demand, doubles your pay rate and currently the demand is for real artists to act as vendors at craft fairs. The beauty of this is that both C and I can work at the same time, he as a woodworker and me with my watercolour art. I understand the craft fair thing in the wholesome American greeting card company movies for which we've been hired, but this last one was for a science fiction TV show, premiering this fall. 

We're getting used to the drill. Show up at your call time, sign in, hit wardrobe and makeup, eat brekkie, set up your booth and report to holding until you're called for filming. We recently had a 15 hour day with not one minute of filming, it was all eating and hanging out. The days usually top out at 12 hours, and include two meals, snacks whenever you want, and most of the time spent socializing with interesting people including a fair number of knitters. 

We have just been booked in for our 6th film shoot.  Here are some examples of our setup:

Look closely, the entire process results in a blurry glimpse of us and maybe our artwork:

It's given me an appreciation for the complexity of film production. And I thought Taking My Parents to Burning Man was a complicated process.

I guess we're moonlighting, retirement being our first job. Literally moonlighting. Last night we arrived home under the light of a 1:30a.m. moon. Not a bad thing.

This house building stuff comes with its own learning curve. So many items, so many explanations needed. Slow closing telescopic toilet seats are a selling feature. Who knew? All it means is that the lid fits around the bottom so the seat isn't exposed in any way when closed. Couldn't they have come up with a better word?  

We've lived out of a suitcase since the end of May, housesitting, staying with friends, Air B&Bing, visiting children. We're limiting our days south of the 49th parallel due to US rules. On this continent anyway. Did you know that if you stay beyond a limit of days prescribed by the federal government and individual states you can become a resident for tax purposes? Do you know how they count the number of days? You might think that an easy task, adding up the days over the border that you checked on a calendar. Nope. The US government counts the number of days present in the current year plus one third of the days you were there last year plus one sixth of the days from two years ago. A formula only a government bureaucracy could think up. It requires an Excel spreadsheet. 

I do like being close to our project, not always possible. This past weekend we even had a picnic in our bedroom:

Mmmmm Trader Joe's Bacon cheddar cheese.

Here you can get an idea of our progress:

Before:

Current:

Note all that fresh new wood.

This is what we had to replace on all three levels:

But that's all behind us now.