First two weeks of November, Nov 1st - Nov 14th

Friday morning had some beautiful fall colour shots from our deck.

 

Saturday morning we were out the door early, heading to Nanaimo. It's nice the rain quit for the day. First up is a Costco shop, then to another store to get  paint supplies for Ray's " Christmas Village".  We also took a quick tour through the Beban Park Craft Fair. We've not been there since we lived in Nanaimo. Came home with only one gift. :) Next up, a sushi lunch then a short visit with Jason, Kristi, Amelia and Olaf. Boy he's grown. 

Kristi playing charades.... answer, you take too many pictures

 

Amelia had "dressup time" with all her various costumes.

After a couple of hours it's time to come home. We left at 7:45 am and didn't get back until 3:30. A long day walking and sitting for Ray.

Monday and a very stormy day. Lake Cowichan did not get the wind that the coastal sections of the island did. Lots of power outages but not here. We pretty much hunkered down inside. The rain did stop late morning with a peak of sunshine to later in the afternoon.

Seems like it was Monday and then it was Friday. 

Tuesday we headed into Duncan so Ray could get his veneer glued back on one of his teeth. We also got our Arexvy vaccinations. 

Brunch on Third

Friday mornings sunrise.

More puttering around the house, that pretty much is it. Ray is enjoying melting his foam. :) Next up painting it. Can't wait to see the finished product.

We have been having trouble with some raccoons deciding that our ramp to the dock is their new latrine! They are also pooping between the dock box and the ramp at the bottom. I guess not having a dog anymore leaving scent in the yard, we've become a "free for all". lol

After cleaning and spraying with Ammonia daily, it is not working ... they are still pooping.  After cleaning up again, this time with soap and bleach, I moved empty planter pots onto the area they are using with a plastic bag underneath and also sprinkled cayenne pepper everywhere. Apparently they don't like the feel of plastic on their feet and information I read, is to move furniture or pots where they were pooping to encourage them to move on. Unfortunately it is pouring rain so I bet the cayenne pepper will be washed away. I have ordered a 

Solar Animal Repeller Outdoor 5 Modes Animal Repeller with Motion Sensor Ultrasonic Animal Repeller for Cat, Deer, Rabbit, Raccoon, Squirrel

from Amazon so hopefully this will fix it. I should get it in a week. I will update. :)

Saturday we attended the local craft fair up at the arena. Ray picked up some local baking and I picked up a couple of things for presents. We like to support local crafters.

Jason and Amelia came to the lake on Sunday to help Ray with the inside Christmas lights that you need a ladder for. Of course that meant cooking breakfast and lunch. I had a great time playing with Amelia while the boys did the work. :) Jason made short work of getting it done.

Amelia playing with the new to her playdough molds from Pat next door. Jason hanging up the lights in the background.

Monday with the lousy weather, I decided to make some Chinese Food at Home. Prawns with honey pecans, and fried rice. Yummm.

Tuesday morning we popped into Duncan for some errands and checked out Canadian Tire's Christmas stuff. Came home with a door mat and some outside garland for the front door. As Elvira was here cleaning, we went for lunch at Jake's at the Lake for their "Roast on Tuesdays" new menu item. It was delicious, stuffed pork loin with gratin veggies. That's dinner too. Next week should be Roast Beef.

After lunch back at home, Ray back downstairs painting and I went upstairs and finished wrapping all of our Christmas Presents. Nice to have that done and ready. Now that November 11th is passed we can start pulling out Christmas. :)

Wednesday woke up to pouring rain again bouncing off our metal roof from the predicted overnight storm. Although windy outside, we still have power :) This fall so far, we've had storm after storm. Glad Ray bought me a backup honda generator now we don't have the motorhome's generator to use, as we are home in the winters. One of his Christmas presents for me. :)

Ray's been busy working on his Christmas Villages ... after forming and painting his foam it's now time to start putting it together. Stuff everywhere!

Here are some pictures of how much the lake has come up in a few days!

As I had mentioned ... nothing too exciting going on around here except watching the lake rise!

Laurel comes to visit and Halloween Fireworks. - Oct 22 - 31

Pretty quiet week. Between my exercise class and Ray's physio we're kept busy. Wednesday, after Ray's physio, we went into Duncan to get our Pneumonia vaccination and our Twinrix for travel to Mexico in February. I also bought the Ducoral to start taking in December. We still have to get our RSV shot and will get the Covid booster in December. We've already had our flu shots. Hopefully we won't get sick anymore this winter from Amelia from her going to daycare. :)

Thursday the sun was finally out and it was a nice day. Some activity on the lake. With all the wind, lots of leaves have fallen.

Unusual to have a float plane land and takeoff so close to town.

While Ray went to Nanaimo for an appointment, and it's sunny so I'm able to sit outside in the front watching my "garden angel" Penny, doing the last of the perennial trimming.

Thursday night is also "Paint Night at Jake's". This time Pat and June accompanied me. Great night with dinner first and then painting for a couple of hours. Pat's is the best, next June, mine well.... just ok in my opinion. lol It's lots of fun anyways.

Oh look! Bob Ross!!

June's picture

My painting

Pat's Picture

There is another paint and sip party in November that I've signed up for too. :)

Friday I was busy getting ready for company this weekend. Our good friend Laurel came up for a couple of days before she leaves for her winter in Austrailia. Today cheesecake was on my list to make ahead as well as brining my chicken for dinner tomorrow.

Laurel arrived bright and early at 10am on Saturday ... let the fun begin. Although it rained earlier this morning, it held off for most of the afternoon. Lunch is at Jake's at the Lake, then we took her for a short drive to the 2 tressles in town so she could see the water.

We spent the afternoon on the deck, then I put our chicken on the rotisserie for dinner. Nice and warm with heaters and firetable on.

While I'm prepping dinner, Ray and Laurel enjoyed a hot tub. After our chicken dinner it's dessert time.

Raspberry Cheesecake

After dinner we relaxed and watched Hocus Pocus 2. Fitting for Halloween.

Sunday, a quiet start to the day. It poured rain all night. Ray and Laurel went for another hot tub, while I made Eggs Benedict for breakfast. What a miserable day. The rain quit for just enough time for Ray and Laurel to get a walk in at the park while I prepped tonight's dinner.

Today's lunch is a charcuterie board, I made up. 

A little peak of sun with a rainbow.

We took Laurel out for a drive to look at some of the new subdivisions along the lakefront before coming back home to play a couple of games of cards before dinner. After dinner, another hot tub for Ray and Laurel and then we all collapsed on our chosen positions for the rest of the evening. We watched two of Discovery Channel programs on trains. Laurel winters in Syndey Australia, so we put on Mighty Trains - The Ghan. She's also looking for summer adventure in BC next year, so we watched Mighty Trains - Rocky Mountaineer.

Monday morning and Laurel's out the door at 7:30 am to make the Mill Bay Ferry. A great visit. See you next summer. The rest of the day isn't very nice out, so we just hunkered down. Lots of showers creates lots of rainbows. :)

Rest of the week it's usual chores. Wednesday when we went to our "Fit for Life", this beauty laid down near the parking lot. So close to the car.

Thursday night there's fireworks by the fire department at the park beside us. A great 20 minute show. I took these pictures from our deck and Ray's pictures are from the dock. Of course Ray fixed the lighting in my pictures. My Samsung phone does a good job.

Ray's after more water reflexions, but the lake isn't cooperating lol

Kristi, Jason, Amelia and Olaf in their Disney Princess themed costumes.

Disney Princesses

Happy Halloween! Now onto Christmas. :)

Amelia and Olaf visits. - October 1st - October 2t1h

Pretty quiet week. We went to our exercise classes, me at the arena and Ray his physio. His leg now bends to 120 degrees. Thursday I went for my pedicure. After a bit of grocery shopping, we decided to try out this little ramen noodle place, called Neko Ramen. Delicious. Apparently the Dad comes in every morning at 8 am to make the noodles for when they open at 10am.

Is this utensil called a spork?

Friday, instead of going out for lunch, I made a "Pub Lunch". Fish and chips with home made tarter sauce ... Yumm.
 

Sunday and it's warm enough to finally sit outside and have a fire. It is bright enough that you can't see the flames lol

As you see it's been pretty boring around here, not many options of taking pictures. The lake is pretty quiet now that fall has arrived. We've enjoyed some beautiful fall mornings.

Wednesday, Oct 9th, I picked up Amelia at the Highway 18 interchange from Jason. She is out of daycare this week to keep her healthy for their plane trip to Halifax, NS on Saturday. A little sad at first missing her mommy and daddy, but once she's at the house and all her toys she hadn't seen for awhile, all was good.

We had a busy 2 days playing and baking. Amelia went to bed at 7 without any trouble and slept through the night both days.

Making blueberry pancakes.

After breakfast we made 2 apple pies. Amelia did all the turning of the apples. 

We took her out for lunch at JV Diner for milkshakes. Here they are counting all the old radios on the ledge above the tables.

Vanilla for Papa and Strawberry for Amelia.

After lunch:

Riding her scooter.

Puzzle time with Papa.

Papa and Amelia made a big fort.

Bathtime before dinner.

Friday morning she helped me scramble eggs and make bread.

Car races.

While Papa went to Duncan for his doctors appointment, Amelia and I sat outside in the sun and she played with her sidewalk chalk.

Time for lunch and pick up all the toys as we wait for her daddy to come and get her. So much fun. She seems to absorb so many things when you talk with her.

Jason arrived about 1:30, Amelia's really happy to see him. Fed Jason some of our bread that Amelia and I made and a slice of pie and off they went leaving Olaf with us for a week. They are all flying to Halifax tomorrow morning.

Olaf was happy to be here.

Saturday, we had our "turkey dinner". I prepped 2 turkey thighs to cook later on. After morning chores, Olaf and I sat outside on the lawn, well I sat and he played fetch lol. It was a lovely warm afternoon at 19C.

Monday and Tuesday were kinda wet, but Ray managed to get out for some "Fall Colours" around town, Tuesday afternoon.

Roy, next door, took this picture taking his boat out for the year showing our houses and fall colours.

I noticed a big black "blob" on the other side of the lake by the marina .... it was a bear. 

The bear was right below our friends house.

It's been a quiet few days with Ray's knee hurting, especially after physio and my right foot flared up with arthritis in the ball joint. Getting better though. Olaf has been a real good puppy. Ray gives him 4 short walks a day. Lots of play in the house.

Cuddle Time

Play with me Grandma.

Saturday morning after voting for our Provincial Election, we took Olaf home to Nanaimo. Amelia's very happy to see her dog. Kristi made us breakfast and we left at 11 back to the lake. 

We have an "Atmospheric River" happening here in BC. Started yesterday with pouring rain and has not let up. It's still raining on Monday morning. The lake level increased substantially in 3 days.

Saturday afternoon, Oct 19.

.

Sunday afternoon, Oct 20th

Monday, Oct 21st.

Here are a couple of pictures of Vancouver area in the news.

This morning a much better day. The lake is officially full.

Some early morning activity on the lake.

That's all that has been happening with us for the past 3 weeks.