Bye for now

I know, I know, I haven't been keeping up this blog very well.  Maybe I'm suffering from blogger burnout, or maybe I'm just lazy.  Whatever -  it's time to switch over to Mexican Madness now anyway.
See y'all over at http://cheryl-dan-mexicanmadness.blogspot.com/

I'm not promising to be any better over there, but if anything is happening for the next few months, that's where it'll be.

Alzheimer's and technology - not a good combination.

This week's theme in the 52-week photo group is BRISK.  Yes, really.  I'm guessing that's because autumn is Monica's favourite time of year and she loves brisk weather.

Taz & I headed up to Tom Campbell's hill this morning for a brisk walk on a brisk autumn day.  Took a few photos, but nothing really screamed BRISK to me.

Headed over to Coop after our walk to pick up a couple of props that I thought I could use instead.  I don't know what happened in my brain, but it slipped sideways a little and somehow "brisk" became "crisp" in my head.  I bought a bag full of nice crisp Granny Smith apples.  I thought I could take a bite out of one of them and arrange them artfully somehow.  In case that didn't work, I also picked up a good-looking strawberry/rhubarb crisp.  I was feeling pretty good about how I'd cleverly thought of a different way to show "crisp", until I went to Facebook to upload one of the pictures to the group and...Crap!  BRISK!!  Not "crisp", you idiot!!

All is not lost.  The apples will probably find their way into a pie tomorrow, and the strawberry/rhubarb crisp will probably go to waist, not to waste.

I was having trouble with my i-Phone.  I could receive e-mails, but I couldn't send them.  Last week I went to the Apple store in Market Mall and one of the geniuses there (really, that's what they call them) checked everything out and determined that the problem was with my internet provider, not with the phone.  Came home, did a few hundred tests with my phone and Dan's and guess what?  His worked fine and mine didn't. Same internet provider.  Today, I went online and found some Q&A sites that I thought might help.  Nope.  I spent about an hour on the Apple site, the end result of which was an appointment to have them phone me on October 22nd!!  I tried contacting Shaw, but of course, because they're a communications company, communication with them is not possible.  I finally talked to a helpful salesperson genius at the Chinook store and she put me on to a website that would test my password.  It was determined that my password was too weak.  In my efforts to change it, I managed to mess up Dan's access to the entire Shaw account.  (Shhh, he doesn't know yet)   but finally, after about 2½ hours, I somehow hit the right combination.  Unfortunately, after 10,000 attempts using different passwords, I now have a password that I have NO CHANCE of remembering...Do I dare risk going back in and trying to change it?  Um, no!

Chemo caps

This is the crocheted version of the chemo cap. The instructions say that this is a 2-hour project.  Yeah, right...It's started at the top and you work your way down.  If I'd followed the instructions exactly, it would've come down past my nose.

And look.  If you turn it upside down it makes a handy basket.  That's the knitted version in progress.

And the knitted version, completed.  This one is started at the bottom and you work your way up.    Because I made the crocheted one first, I knew it would probably be too long, so I was able to adjust the sizing to a more appropriate length.  If I'd made this one first, it would've become a tea cozy instead.

Of the two, I think I prefer the look of the knitted one, but it was more difficult and took twice as long as the crocheted one.  And it's not finished when the knitting is over - the back seam still has to be sewn up.  (Pain in the butt)

Fortunately, there is no-one in my life that needs these, but a portion of the proceeds from the yarn purchase is contributed to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and they were fun to do.

Mountain get-away

Cari-Ann went to Vancouver for the week-end and she offered us her condo to use while she was away.  Sweet!  We arrived Saturday morning.

We packed a stuffie for Taz, but of course, Muñeca's stuffed Husky was way more interesting.

Looking down C-A's street.  (Her condo is just on the right-hand side)

This is the view from her balcony.

We walked our feet off - mostly along the river pathways.

We like the trestle bridge

Taz - not so much.  She has to be coaxed across it every time.

It's worth it though, because the good swimming hole is just on the other side. 

Woohoo!  Swimmin' and sticks!

 

Also spent some time walking along the creeks,

where there are more scary bridges

The boardwalk is really just another bridge, but it's about a ½ km long.  By the time we got to the end she was quite okay with it.

Of course we were dreaming and checking out the possibilities...

This duplex is right outside Cari-Ann's kitchen window. 

Her friends live in ½ of it, the other side is for sale.

I like this gorgeous little chalet,

or this beautiful stone house

This adorable little cottage is just around the corner from C-A

If you've got a half a million dollars to spend, there are lots of houses/condos available, but after an in-depth study of the local real estate newspaper, we realized that we will be able to afford a place in Canmore when...

There was a bear sighting on the pathway by the river, but we opted to turn around when the people ahead of us let us know about it, so the only bear we saw was this one in somebody's garden

(I'm okay with that!)

Of course, it's not Canmore without the bunnies.  Thousands of them!

This is somebody's house number sign.  Nice eh?

This piece art has been the subject of much controversy in town, but it seems that the people are starting to accept it.   In the winter, he gets bundled up in giant knitted toques and ear-muffs,  and of course, he gets dressed for special occasions like St. Patrick's Day & Halloween.  I love it when people interact with their public art!

Even the graffitti in Canmore is pleasant.

Peace, man.

Passport photos

 Because we could all use a good laugh...
You thought I was kidding about the passport photos didn't you?  Admit it, you thought I was just being vain.  You didn't believe that I really looked like a criminal did you?  Well, see for yourself...  All that's missing is the orange jumpsuit and the numbers underneath!  Seriously, this woman is scary.  Probably up on manslaughter charges or something felonious.   I'm sure she'd beat you up for your cigarettes in jail.

I decided that I couldn't live with that for 5 years, so I had another one taken.  This woman still looks like a criminal, but maybe just a cheque forger or something non-violent. 

Is there a special course that these passport photographers take?  And why aren't we allowed to crack a smile?  Sheesh!

Quick trip to Victoria

Lesley & I went to Victoria to say good-bye to "Uncle" Bill last weekend.  He wasn't related, but he's always been Uncle Bill to us.  He was Dad's best friend since they were school boys together.  The memorial tea was a nice send off.  Lots of people and good stories.

We had a nice flight out there.

Approaching Victoria.  Lots of boats in a nice little harbour.

Welcome to Victoria

A nice view of the straits of Juan de Fuca from our 10th floor hotel room

3 cruise ships in port

 

Great looking house, also from our balcony

We found the outdoor market and wandered around for awhile.

Not sure how people make money selling flowers in a city where so many people are gardeners and can grow their own

Rainbow kale

A walk around the parliament buildings

R.I.P. Mr. Layton (and Uncle Bill)

The harbour from the grounds of the parliament building

And of course, the Empress Hotel

 

Flowers everywhere!

Such a pretty city

In honour of Mom, we went to Ogden Point...

...and walked along the pier.  That was her favourite thing to do in Victoria.

Interesting sea creatures

So, Saturday was a great day in Victoria.  Sunday, not such a great day in Vancouver airport.  Stand-by travel at its worst!  Oh well, we made friends with the other "cons" (contingency passengers) and we did finally get on a flight home, so all's well that ends well, I suppose.