December 2013 - Weirs Beach and Christmas

 

December 5th - It's Snowing!!!

 It is snowing out and it is forecasted all day. Still cold -1C right now and to go down to -6C tonight. Snow is supposed to stop this evening and then remain cold at least another 5-6 days. Yikes! This is a rare event in Victoria, they don't even have snow plows. We are managing to stay snug and warm even though no power on Tuesday for the day. (Good to have big generator!)

Ray is doing much better, walking the dog on the beach at least 6 to 7 times per day. He parks himself on the couch in the morning to keep me company and then retires to the bedroom for the afternoon to watch all of his war/history stuff. Night time he's back on the couch for awhile, and then we both go to bed to watch TV or read. So far we have not killed each other :)! His appetite is poor with the pain meds, so I become creative in cooking with different tastes to entice him to eat. He's lost about 5 lbs since the operation I think. He is slowly weaning himself off the pain meds so that will be better for his appetite. In spite of our sedimentary lifestyle at the moment the days seem to go by fairly quickly. I've been going to the pool three times a week, but it is closed for three weeks for maintenance so I guess I will have to start going to the weight room instead ... just not while it is snowing!

 A couple of days before Christmas we had a clear view of Mount Rainier.

 

December 26th - Christmas 2013

 Garrett and Kira came over on the 23rd of December to spend Christmas with us. We're having a fantastic time and the dogs were loving playing with each other. Christmas dinner was a potluck at the clubhouse with about 30 people in attendance. Lots of great food.

Christmas Dinner at the Clubhouse 

Lots of food.

Christmas Eve

Too tired to stand and drink!

Christmas morning sunrise!

November 2013 - Weirs Beach, Witty's Lagoon and visiting in Vancouver and Ray's back surgery.

 

November 2nd - Gorge Park Esquimalt

 Earlier this week to celebrate a bright sunny day, we took a walk through Gorge Park. What a beautiful park and to our surprise, it included a Japanese Garden. We even ate a picnic lunch overlooking the water.  Here are some pictures.

November 3rd - China Town

Took a quick walk through China Town and ate the best Wor Wonton Soup for lunch at a small restaurant. We realized we've never walked through China Town even though we've spent lots of time downtown Victoria. The colours and smells are incredible. 

Chinese Welcoming Gate

Tin Pan Alley

November Pumpkins and Sunday Dinner - 2013-11-04 13:04

Along the Veteran's Memorial Parkway by Latoria Road people leave their carved pumpkins after Halloween just like they do in Cathedral Grove on the way to Port Alberni.

We had a lovely campfire yesterday and Sunday Ham dinner with Garrett, Kristi and Jason. It was great to have all my chicks under my roof for a day. :)

November 5th - Witty's Beach

 Ray and Garrett went for a walk with the dogs to Witty's Beach while the weather is reasonably sunny. Here are some pictures.

November 8th - Vancouver visiting

Tuesday we took Garrett back with us on the ferry from Victoria  to Vancouver and stopped in to see my Dad.  As Ray's surgery is next Wednesday and we will be grounded for three months, we thought we'd better get over to the mainland and say hi. Here are some pictures of active pass. Not much room between the ferries.

Betty cooked us a lovely lunch with scallops and prawn stir fry. Fantastic!

Wednesday we met Mom for lunch at the Boat House in New Westminster and then had a lovely roast beast dinner at Ken and Norma's. Thursday found us back on the 10:30 ferry via Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo as Ray had a doctor's appointment.  Arrived back home at 5:15 just as it was getting dark. A whirl wind three days!

November 14th - Ray's surgery successful

Ray had his final spinal fusion surgery on Wednesday. It appears to be successful as he can move his toes. Hopefully this will help with his nerve root pain and he will be able to walk without his leg giving out on him. It is nice to have this finally over so he can move onto healing. He hates being in hospital, but will be there for 4 days ... home on Sunday.

 November 17th - Surgery

 Ray got out of the hospital yesterday, a day early. He managed to get his drain knocked out the first morning and later that day his catheter, so was without plumbing attached much earlier  Unfortunately, he is experiencing quite a bit of pain still. He was good up and walking ysterday and not bad for the ride home and then his right hip bone on his bum side began to get extremely sore to the touch and he has to lay on it! Hopefully a better day tomorrow.  If not he is going back! I think he probably had fluid on that hip as it was close to the area where his drain was and he usually has the drain in for 2 days not one.

While walking the dog last night in the dark, the tide was way out so Freya got a good run. There was a huge owl sitting on a rock on the beach that we nearly walked into. I noticed a flutter so turned on the flashlight.

This is kind of what it looked like only on a large rock.

November 18th - Day 5 Post-Op

 Day 5 post-op. It was a terrible morning for Ray including throwing-up all over me! Oh well I guess I am in practice for grand babies eventually.

 After some gravol and some yogurt later we were back on track. He is moving a little better today but still confined to the coach. It is raining out anyways. I am taking him back to the surgeon tomorrow afternoon just to make sure his hip pain is just post-op swelling. The dog is finding it a bit strange with me doing all of the walking instead of Ray. Thanks to all our friends and family for the good wishes. His incision is so long I think they should have just installed a zipper!

November 21st - One week Post-op

 Ray is doing much better, able to ambulate on his own and even takes the dog for short walks on the beach. Amazing what a few days does. His right hip turned out to be bursitis and is slowly improving. Probably from being folded up like a pretzel for 4 hours during the operation! He spends half his time on the couch and half in our bed. Seems to be working out okay.