2023 in review

 wishing our loved ones all the best in 2024! 

here's what happened in 2023, in short!

january

     recovering from covid took more time than I anticipated it would. and returning to work right away probably wasn't the best choice, but it was necessary.  luckily I had the option of taking the train, so that lightened the load of the emotional toll that driving takes on me, especially in the horrible winter weather we had.  Janet and I had a rollicking good time watching The Play That Goes Wrong.  and I went to see a fellow cast mate from 1776 playing my part in Assassins!  as part of my "recovery" of staying in and resting, I watched several webinars on historical subjects from the White House and Capitol Historical Societies.  and, to start off our garden right, I planted a Disneyland Rose tree to enhance our back yard. 

february

     unpacking netted me some of my favorite cooking tools, so I amped up my food prep activities to the next level.  kind of like our favorite shuffle chef who made it to the top in the Chef Gordon Next Level competition!  

march

     wild weather, but luckily our home withstood the barrage.  driving in it for work however was terrifying.  and it didn't help that my car battery died when I was on the road home with a load of cold groceries.  luckily I got the best tow truck driver ever, and the dealership didn't try to rob me when making the repair.  I went to see the historical rock opera SIX in San Francisco!  it was fantastic!!  I did a lot of fancy cooking, twice with shuffle chefs, and once when I pulled out my Julia Child books and made her mustard leg of lamb.  at work it was the end of an era when the last of the three founders passed away.  on my weekly trip to headquarters, I made special effort to wander the halls and museum, and take memento pictures of his legacy.

april

     started the month driving into the city to see one of my Grand Hotel cast mates in another show I've performed in, Merrily We Roll Along.  made major progress in upgrading the backyard by installing a raised bed garden around the perimeter, and a putting green across the rest of the space.  the Disneyland Rose was in full bud, and would be blooming very soon!  Easter weekend we spent hours planting lots of flowering plants and fruit and veggies.  for Easter, we splurged and got a spiral cut ham from that famous vendor who has a shop a couple miles from our home!  did a cooking class with our favorite shuffle chef, and with our cafe chef at work!  I can pick up ingredients from the cafe before the class, or source myself.  while Craig was golfing, I went to the movie theater to see a new movie, Chevalier, which was such an epic historical production.  for our admins day surprise, our CEO popped into our site gathering for a short inspirational talk and selfies.  good thing I drove to headquarters instead of watching from home!

may

     our garden managed to survive a hailstorm that hit when Craig was home but I was driving home from the Folsom office!  nothing like driving around with lightning, thunder and blinding hail with people who don't know how to drive in it!  my usual first Saturday in May activity was boosted by having a coronation occur earlier in the day.  I got up at 1:30, so I could shower, dress up, and make my Buckingham Palace cuppa tea before the hours-long, once in a lifetime event!  and the race honored the Big Red horse that made history 50 years before; it was a pretty epic day!   the next day I went to see a production of Newsies, helmed by one of "my kids" from our theater, all grown up and leading the next theater generation.  we had lunch afterward with his fiancee and talked over old times and all the shows we did together.  managed to catch a bug somewhere in my travels - luckily not covid - but it knocked me out for several days before and right into mothers day.  luckily Craig had already planned to cook dinner, and made leg of lamb.  during Craig's annual Palm Springs boys golf outing, I went to see Riverdance at the beautiful theater in Modesto!  then I saw the current touring company production of 1776 in the big Center in San Jose.  on this same trip to the bay area I stayed over and watched Janet play in her string ensemble and our band's concert.  we added more plants to our garden, and trellises to train the climbing produce; it's coming along quite nicely and we see changes every day!  for admins day/week my team gave me a substantial gift certificate to a restaurant I wanted to try.  we decided to use it for our anniversary dinner.  it is upscale soul food fusion casual to fine dining, and we loved it!  our hostess seated us in the best seat in the house, right next to the kitchen window where Chef prepares and puts finishing touches on everything going out.  we will be returning.

june

     we were able to start harvesting produce from the garden for our meals!  at work, I was able to watch the live-cast of the memorial service for our founder.  I had been at headquarters the day before and took pictures of the setup going on in the courtyard.  one of my colleagues tapped me to use my voice talent for her two training videos for one of her projects!  I cooked a LOT, some old favorites - Nana s'ghetti - and new ones using recipes I've found online.  I also cooked two more meals with our shuffle chefs.  I got the sad news that one of our director friends from our theater had passed away from complications after surgery.  sadness.

july

     Craig and I went to the theater during the Fourth weekend to see the latest and final Indy movie, in 4DX.  then we had a late lunch/early dinner along the river at Crawdads.  Lots more fun cooking including shawarma from scratch, another shuffle class, and trying out more new recipes.  I drove to the bay area and stayed overnight to attend the memorial for our friend Ted.  the venue was packed with over 100 of his theater family, co-workers and his siblings.  it was heart-wrenching and still cathartic.  during the month I discovered an audition opportunity, and was cast, and ended the month doing the table-read for a local production of Pride & Prejudice.  After 3-1/2 years, I'll be back on stage again!

august

     my voice talents were noticed again, and I did another voiceover for another colleague's legal training video.  rehearsals started for P&P, and since my part is so small, I volunteered to help with costumes.  I got them to sign up as a recipient in our volunteer hour matching program at work, so that all my hours in rehearsals, back stage and on stage are matched with monetary donations.  my rehearsal schedule didn't crimp my time in the kitchen, and I did two shuffle classes, as well as recreated a couple of restaurant recipes I've always loved.  I even took on a two week process of making corned beef from scratch, including making the pickling spice from scratch!  that way I can omit the flavors that I don't like or can't eat.  I attended a quilt faire and saw lots of projects that I would love to create!  rehearsals were over and we loaded into the theater, ready for performances to start in September.

september

     even though my part is small - 5 minutes on stage in the 2nd Act - I volunteered to help with all quick changes for the sisters on stage right, which kept me hopping through most of the show!  our Lizzie complimented me by calling me the MVP for this effort!  two of my former co-producers from many shows at our theater came to see the show, and surprised me when we made our post-show lobby call.  it was wonderful to see them, and I was glad they enjoyed our production.

october

     birthday month and boy how I celebrated!  Craig and I went to see our friend "Elvis" perform on the USS Potomac - first time for him and third time for me.  I cooked for the potluck cast party for P&P, and even got a gift card thanking me for my help with costumes and quick changes.  we harvested all the sunflower seeds from our 12 plants, and I roasted them with Tapatio and with Truffle flavoring for Craig and Janet.  Craig made dill pickles while I was on my birthday vacation trip to Victoria, BC, so I followed up by making bread & butter sweet pickles when I returned.  I saw Janet on Halloween day when I took the train to headquarters, and gave her a jar since sweet pickles were always her favorite, plus her truffle sunflower seeds and a bottle of cider from Canada.

the birthday trip

     despite having near catastrophic car troubles, I was able to continue my birthday road trip to Canada, the first time I've been back in 50 years!  I'd been planning my various bucket list destinations since April, which was good since I needed military precision planning to do all the things I wanted.  and the weather needed to be factored in even more, since the forecast was for rain most of the week I was in Victoria.  

     day ONE I drove to Ashland and watched Twelfth Night at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  

     day TWO I drove to and stopped briefly at what had been the Canyonville Bible Academy where my grandparents taught many years ago.  I got to my Aunt's home and spent the rest of the day, staying overnight, and enjoying leisurely morning coffee with her and several of my cousins - so wonderful catching up with these loved ones!  

     day THREE it was on to Washington with a stop at the family graveyard where many of our ancestors rest.  I stayed overnight at the worst motel, but the next morning, 

     day FOUR I boarded the ferry and sailed across the sound and into Canada!  the annual marathon was blocking our exit from the terminal, but we eventually drove through breaks in the runners, and I went to the other side of the city to Beacon Hill Park to see the Tallest Totem Pole in the world.  I met incredibly generous people there and at brunch - Canadians are stellar humans!  in the afternoon I checked in at Janet's timeshare, unpacked, then went to have birthday duck dinner at the restaurant next door.  

     day FIVE was Canadian Thanksgiving so most things were closed.  I did a little grocery shopping for the timeshare kitchen - mostly breakfast foods - and just tried to stay out of the wet weather.  glad I packed epic raingear!  

     day SIX I went to the Art Gallery during the rainy morning, a quick walkabout around the parliament buildings during a lull in the rain, then had a lovely tea at a restored Victorian inn and tea house!  

     day SEVEN I drove up to a cider farm and tasting room and had a lovely lunch and flight of 6 ciders.  after a quick stop at a pumpkin farm, I continued on to a Fort and lighthouse, since the weather had cleared by the afternoon.  

     day EIGHT, the only day that was going to be completely rain-free, I knew I had to return to Butchart Gardens, which was one of our destinations 50 years ago.  it was everything I remembered, and I took hundreds of beautiful pictures.  I had lunch at the Blue's Bayou Cafe, and spent the afternoon at the Butterfly Gardens where I found possibly the only flamingo on the island - of course!  

     day NINE was castles day, and I visited the gardens of one while the weather held, and the inside tour of the other when the rain came in.  I finished the evening at Fisherman's Wharf having fish & chips and ale.  

     day TEN I spent around the timeshare, resting, doing the laundry, resting, and then walked back to the Wharf for dinner again, this time enjoying Onolicious Prawns and ale.  

     day ELEVEN was the return ferry trip in the afternoon, but first I attended two morning services at the beautiful Anglican church in town.  the short sail back to the US was uneventful, but the drive to my motel for the night was a harrowing drive through darkness, rain, and unfamiliar terrain through the forest.  and don't get me started on the bad drivers!  nope, not in Canada any more.  

     day TWELVE I slept in then fueled up for the drive back to Portland and another day with Aunt & Company :-)  across the two days I got to see four of my six cousins.  how I miss these people, who were such a big part of my childhood when we moved from Florida to California.  

     day THIRTEEN, my final bucket list destination was the Evergreen Air & Space Museums, the permanent home of the Spruce Goose!  I spent several hours here, and didn't get back to Ashland as I had hoped, so spent my last overnight in Roseburg.  

     day FOURTEEN was the 7+ hour drive back home, to get a little rest before a 12 hour day in the office in Folsom.  no rest for this weary girl!  but it was a wonderful, memorable birthday trip!!

november

     the month of thanksgiving and we have much to be grateful for, despite the loss of another dear friend and my car still giving me fits.  I did two truffle classes, sourcing one and getting their sourced box for the other.  we celebrated my birthday together at our favorite soul food restaurant, and enjoyed different foods from the last time - working our way through the menu!  I went to see two of my P&P cast mates in a spectacular production of 20,000 Leagues.  while much of the produce was winding down in our garden, our tomatoes were still overproducing, so I made a big pot of green tomato beef chili to use a bunch of those.  and for Thanksgiving dinner I made caviar and cucumber appetizers, duck a l'orange, steamed asparagus, and roasted root veggies, and Craig got an apple pie for dessert.  at work, many hours were spent at both locations with moving - I hate moving!

december

     we decorated for and celebrated both Christmas and Hanukah.  I even took my hanukiah on the road so I could light my candles on my four day/three night trip to headquarters.  there we had a team lunch, team dinner, and all-division party.  plus I got to see Janet, and bring her the pickle present I made for her - pickling spice, ripple cut knife and recipe card.  oh and I went to her string ensemble concert, but the band concert had to be postponed.  lots of good food was cooked, and baking happened too.  my shuffle class was both cheese and chocolate souffles - an advanced cooking session but I got multiple shout-outs from Chef Jeremy!  I even tried my hand at dill pickle potato chips!  Craig took over cooking for Christmas and New Years, making surf & turf for both.  easy but exceptional!

by clicking the Older Posts link below you can see pictures and read more details of this past year.  

we hope that your year has been filled with happy times,
creating great memories with people you love. 
we wish you all the best in 2024.  

d e c e m b e r . 2 0 2 3

hoping for peace for the holidays

holiday lights across our back fence, and the full moon above.

 

unpacked the mid-century modern / flamingo holiday house from past Christmases.

 

World Market had a gingerbread kit available this year, to continue the theme!  most items were in the kit, but I had to craft the flamingo lawn figures myself!

 

Craig got a beautiful lasting wreath for the front door.

 

then he spent a couple weekends putting out the front yard decorations.

Chanukah

 

     I started lighting the chanukiah at home, but then had to spend several days in the bay area for work.  for the eighth night I made it back home again. 

 

     while the band concert was postponed one week, I still got to see Janet play her bass in the strings concert.  unfortunately I couldn't make it back for the Express Band.  they carried on without me. 

 

     I stayed overnight not only for Janet's concert (and to give her her birthday/Christmas gifts) but to attend a team dinner, a team lunch, and our all-division team afternoon social where we had lots of games, including an ugly sweater contest.  for about the sixth or seventh time, I came in "second," because I can never seem to win in any of the categories they always make up the day of the contest.  I do think this is my most favorite of all my ugly sweaters though :-)  

     there was a local shopping center offering holiday carriage rides for a donation to the local animal shelter, so I signed us up for that!  our horses were Lady and Babe, who took a selfie with me at the end. 

   

     lots of cooking happening this month too.  I received the annual festive fruit platter from friends, and used the Asian pear to make a delightful spicey slaw, that we ate with glazed garden carrots, fresh baked bread, and Craig made teriyaki beef slices. 

     I found an inexpensive boneless leg of Australian lamb and made several meals out of that.  started out with roasting it, and making a citrus (from the platter) and pistachio gremolata to top it, sauteed garden chard, and the rest of the Asian pear slaw.  a couple nights later I made a West Indian lamb curry that was amazing. 

  

     to use the leftover apples, citrus and persimmon before they spoiled, I made an air-fried apple filling and put it into hand-pies and a "bubble-up" made with ready-made biscuit bites.  both were delicious and made good use of what we had in the house. 

     I hadn't yet cooked with this shuffle chef, because he's the pastry king, but he was making a meal of cheese souffle AND chocolate souffle for the holidays so I couldn't pass up this chance.  this was a more advanced course, and if I do say so, I passed with flying colors, and got several shout-outs from Chef Jeremy. 

     before the frost hits, I knew we had to pick the rest of the garden produce, which netted us a LOT of carrots.  I glazed a bunch to go with these grilled lamb chops that I smothered in a garlic, thyme and sherry glaze. 

     Christmas Eve morning I made a frittata with SPAM, a garden tomato and sundried tomatoes, two cheeses and a scallion.  I almost forgot to take a picture, and did so after the first serving was taken out. 

     the holidays are for spending time with family, and my family is spread across the US.  my dad's sister Aunt Maddie is on FB so I get to "see" and converse with her regularly, but my mom's sisters are not really FB denizens.  I called them both, Denali then Sylvia, on Christmas Day to wish them well, and spent over an hour talking to them!  I hope it made them feel as wonderful as I felt hearing them <3 

     Craig wanted surf & turf for Christmas dinner.  I served up remoulade to go with the asparagus, and the fresh baked bread was served with herb & garlic butter.  for dessert, I made carrot cake, which had our garden white carrots as the central ingredients, and pecans, so that I can actually eat it!  and the home-made cream cheese frosting always takes it to the next level! 

     getting adventurous again, I tried my hand at making dill pickle potato chips, since it's just too costly to order them from Canada all the time.  I sliced up the cute little rainbow potatoes - yes, there was another mandolin injury - and brined then air-fried them.  they weren't exactly like the ones I love, but they were yummy none-the less! 

     finishing out the year with yet another picture of the peacock morning glories.  here they are on 12.31.23 (waltz day) looking like they're getting ready for winter.  I will have to read up on if they come back in spring, or if I will need to replant.  they were so lovely most of the year! 

     back at the beginning of November I took this sunset photo of the sky over our back yard.  we had a lovely tree barrier between us and neighboring structures.  just before Christmas however the tree saws, bucket trucks and chipper/shredders were busy for several days and removed most of the pines and eucalyptuses.  we hope it was for useful purposes such as tree rot or prevention of damage from falling trees or branches during the expected storm season.   with the changes to our garden and the lack of trees beyond our boundary, it's quite a stark contrast after only seven weeks!

     I had found pink bubbly on one of my excursions into a store before the holidays, so it made an appearance for this night.  Craig made surf & turf again, supplementing it with risotto and sauteed mushrooms, and I made a Calabrian pepper aioli for the asparagus.  scrumptious as usual! 

 

happy new year to one and all! 

n o v e m b e r . 2 0 2 3

always grateful

ever thankful

     I try to feel gratitude, and even express gratitude every day.  during my vacation, a small corner of the world went crazy, and all we could do is sit and watch hateful people do hateful things.  it is still going on a month later.  saying 'my thoughts and prayers are with you' is just not enough any more.

     at work, our Folsom team gathered for another proximity lunch, this time at a nice Asian restaurant, to celebrate a good year and the upcoming holiday season. 

     more cooking adventures had me making Fried Green Tomatoes, and a Dutch Baby (pancake).  we went out to our new favorite upscale comfort food restaurant for my birthday and had amazing chicken fried lobster bites, coconut curry mussels, fried chicken and jambalaya!  

   

 

     and for Veterans Day I cooked with the truffle team, as Chef Anna made Crispy Duck, cider glazed apples, and creamy polenta! Craig loved it all, and we will definitely be making these recipes again! 

     I crocheted a poppy accessory for my QEII hat; it's the traditional symbol of remembrance of veterans.  

 

     I went to see two of my Pride & Prejudice cast mates in a tremendous production of 20,000 Leagues.  not only were their performances outstanding but the staging was exceptional.  it was also fun to see several other P&P cast and staff in the audience, so we had a mini reunion. 

     I stayed overnight in the bay area again, for two critical meetings on two different days.  I took the train however, since my transmission has been giving me fits, and I don't feel safe driving long distances. 

     our favorite Chef Tucker led another great class, this one making shepherds pie with kobe beef!  so delicious.

     and because I've been providing progress most of the year on the peacock morning glory trellis, here is what it looks like in mid-November! 

     Joyce got to go to her happy place, and she took Tim their for his first time!  look at these happy faces!!  

     on Thanksgiving Eve I got the sad post about another long-time theatre friend Keith, who passed away suddenly after surgery.  Joyce and I had known him for about 20 years, and had worked backstage, and I had performed on stage, with him on many shows.  he was two years younger than me!  I know we are getting to the age when we will lose our friends, but this is just heart-wrenching.  he was a musical inspiration to so many kids in the bay area, and just one of the nicest people ever! 

     finally thanksgiving arrived.  work has been incredibly busy - unseasonably busy! - and with my car troubles it's just been a lot of stress.  I found a few flowers remaining in the garden, and made a bouquet with those, some carrot tops, and some fresh basil; a lovely and fragrant - and free - table decoration.  I made some easy football food to be enjoyed before the feast.  I looked up an appetizer recipe to include cucumbers - fresh from our garden - and caviar, and found one with a delightful creamy dip too.  then for the feast I prepared duck a l'orange, steamed asparagus, and roast root veggies of golden beets, parsnips and carrots.  we finished up with apple pie with caramel sauce.  so full!  so wonderful!  we are thankful!!

  

     the day after thanksgiving while Craig was starting the holiday lights installation process, I used up several of our green and red tomatoes to make green tomato beef chili.  after cooking most of the day, we enjoyed it with garlic'y buttered baguette slices. 

  

     after having so much trouble with my car, and not wanting to spend any more money to have a dealer troubleshoot what might be a simple issue, I rented this baby to get me around town and to the bay area until we finally isolated the problem - transmission fluid most probably.  but this was a fun ride for a week while we were figuring it out!  :-D  funny story: the agent at the rental desk asked me hesitantly "would you want a charger" as if she thought I'd think that was the worst idea, especially as it is also - obviously - speeding ticket red!

     and not so funny about my car: apparently my model - one of only six years they designed it this way - doesn't have a dipstick for the transmission fluid.  did they assume people wouldn't need to check?  did they forget to design it in?  unbelievable.   so my solution has been to add a half-quart at a time, to see if that is solving the issue, and it seems to be.  when did I become a mechanic?! 

     and the main reason I needed a car is because I am having to move in both my work locations - here is my clean-out state for the Folsom office, which also included making sure the fax machine was working at the new desk in the building next door, another two hour troubleshooting effort on my part.  when did I become an IT specialist?! 

o c t o b e r . 2 0 2 3

birthday month! 

     started out the month with a bang ... of course!  now that the pandemic is over, the USS Potomac is sailing again, and Elvis is singin' and swingin' on board!  I bought my ticket awhile ago, but Craig decided the night before he'd go if there were still tickets available - - there were!  

 

     so we woke early and headed to Oakland and Jack London Square.  surprisingly there wasn't much traffic and we got there with plenty of time to spare.  we wandered around the square, taking in the sites, enjoying the brisk fall, clean, fresh sea air!

  

  

     when the time came, we collected our souvenir tickets and boarded the presidential yacht.  we were even treated to the raising of the state flag by a member of the crew!  

     embedded in the deck is the seal of the president, more proof positive that this was his floating white house when he held the highest office.  and look, Elvis is using it to launch one of his signature moves.  while I got a smooch from Elvis, Craig got some gooey lip prints and a scarf from Priscilla, who was also on board! 

  

     underway and out on the bay we took in the sights of the famous SF skyline.  the paddlewheel Belle is where Joyce and I once watched the fleet week activities of the Blue Angels a few years ago for our birthday.  Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge were also off in the distance.  

  

     when we got to the cruise ship we'd been "at sea" for an hour and it was time to head back.  the captain swiveled the boat in place and headed us back for home port.  I wanted to get a "Jack & Rose" pose but they had the bow blocked off.  but it was still a pretty site with the bay bridge in the distance.  and the ship's bridge was mighty pretty decked out in her patriotic bunting. 

     since we were travelling in the right of way by then we could swing closer to the ballpark where fans were drifting in to watch the afternoon game.  my friend Dave would probably be getting there soon in his kayak to try to catch the splash hits - - he has at least one hundred already!  we believe the new basketball park is the building in the next photo.

     Elvis first performs on the main deck on the fantail, for the crowds that want to sit in comfort out of the sun.  then he moves to the upper deck and performs a second set up there.  it was a glorious day, with only light winds and the crowds absolutely loved being there and watching him.  (I always take a picture of the elegant Cris Craft "lifeboats" that are on the deck.  such a beautiful relic from another, wealthier time.) 

     I didn't take this picture, but one of the other passengers did, and sent it to me.  Rick was goofing around and sat on my lap while he was singing.  so I patted him on the back and just sat and smiled for the camera!  Craig doesn't look nearly as amused LOL. 

     soon it was time to debark and head home, with only minimal traffic struggles where the highway team was trimming trees into two lanes of coned off freeway!  

     that evening was also the cast party for Pride & Prejudice, so we quickly shopped for supplies for me to make BBQ Li'l Smokies, which were a huge hit at the party.  it was lovely to gather with these wonderful people again.  I even got a Starbucks card as a thank you for all my work on costumes and helping with quick changes!   whew! what a long day.  but a happy one. 

     we harvested the sunflower seeds in the garden, and I got truly ambitious and decided to roast them!  I made Tapatio flavored ones for Craig, and made a small batch for Janet that were brined in truffle salt brine, then roasted in truffle carpaccio oil.

     I scrambled to get caught up at work, even driving down to HQ the last day before vacation.  I wanted to get an oil change and smog check the week before my long drive but that turned into an ordeal!  the service agent made false promises knowing all about my plans and I wasn't able to get my car back until the morning I was supposed to drive out!!  we even rented a car for a month as "plan b" in case they couldn't finish in time.  just one more thing bringing me stress. 

 

THE birthday trip

DAY 1

     lots of bucket list activities.   I made it up to Ashland by late afternoon, had a little rest, then went to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and saw a 1920s jazz and blues variation of Twelfth Night.  It was glorious!  this was my first time at this venue, but I definitely want to make the trip again! 

 

DAY 2

     the next day I drove up the highway to a small town where our grandparents taught before I was born.  it is no longer the bible academy as they had to divest, but they sold to a worthwhile organization and it looks like it is thriving. 

 

     I got to Aunt Denali's by early afternoon.  it is so wonderful to see her and my cousins again!  it's been six years since Janet, Joyce and I visited.  Chris and Vici stopped by; and Ralph was there of course and went out to get us take-out for dinner - delicious!  we had a wonderful time catching up, and they invited me to stay the night, which saved me a hotel stay.  Ralph took me on a tour of the house, and I took LOTS of pictures of the paintings and artwork created by our grandad, Claude. 

 

  

DAY 3

        the next morning we had a leisurely morning coffee and I helped my aunt with some of her scrapbooking activities.  it was mid-day before I hit the road, needing to get to Port Angeles for the night to catch the very early ferry across to Canada.  but on the way, just across the river, I stopped at the family plot where generations of our family are buried. 

  

DAY 4

     very early before it was light I queued up to provide my travel papers and board the ferry.  it was a glorious day and I took a few pictures during the 90 minute sail across the international border.

     I arrived during the annual marathon that closes many streets around the harbor.  it took some tricky driving, but I maneuvered out of that area and over to Beacon Hill Park to meander and take in some sites, and waste time until I could check in to the timeshare which is back in the harbor and wharf area right on the marathon route.  besides some beautiful gardens, this park is home to the tallest totem pole in the world, so I had to go see that! 

  

    on the walk to the totem pole I asked a woman with two young children for guidance to the relic.  we got to talking and she asked if I was visiting, and so on and so forth.  as I walked away with the information I needed, the older of the two children, a boy of about eight, called me and ran up to me; he wanted to give me a small peacock feather that he had found, since it was my birthday!  what a surprising and generous gesture from a young man to a perfect stranger!  what an endearing way to start my stay in Canada <3 

    by lunch time I was ready to find food.  I navigated back toward the wharf, and found a parking lot within two blocks of the timeshare, but there was a race barricade between me and the entrance.  I found a lovely farm to fork restaurant two blocks away and made my way there to eat and wait.  I met a lovely couple, Paige and Matt, who had participated already in the marathon and were having a post-race nosh ... Paige showed me her medal for finishing!  they were such a delight to talk to as we all had our leisurely brunch.  they left before me, and I found out when I finished (and a new couple had taken their place) that they had paid for my meal!  I was so astonished at this generosity to a perfect stranger!  I started to cry, and the lady next to me said she'd be crying too.  It was just such a wonderful way to start my week in Victoria! 

  

I believe they grow some of their fresh produce in their back yard garden. 

     I wanted to "pay it forward" to Paige and Matt, so I walked back to the marathon route and sat on a curb shouting encouragement and clapping for the runners still bringing up the last kilometer of the race.  when it seemed like there were no more runners, I hopped in my car and headed for the road that led to the timeshare.  there was still a barricade in place, but a race official took pity on me and moved it so I could drive around, just cautioning me not to hit any runners/stragglers as I drove slowly the last two short blocks.  

     finally checked in, I made my way up to the third floor room which overlooked the harbor!  this is definitely a timeshare I want to revisit.  I unpacked and made myself comfy.  the next day, our birthday, was also Canadian Thanksgiving, and I wasn't sure what would be open, closed, fully booked and so on.  so I decided I would have birthday dinner on this first night.  

     I tried the Italian restaurant right across the street, but they had no availability.  so I walked back to the hotel and restaurant next door, and they had plenty of availability.  I had a charming waitress who called me honey and darling all night.  she was so delighted I picked their restaurant to celebrate.  I had a Victoria Sour (their take on the whisky drink with red wine and rosehip lemonade) and a delicious duck with raspberry sauce over brussels sprouts and whipped potatoes!  and of course my waitress brought me a lovely dessert with my decaf coffee to end the meal <3  all of this I enjoyed with a lovely view of the hustle and bustle of the harbor businesses.  they even launch pontoon planes from here, but I wasn't going to go on that adventure this trip. 

  

DAY 5

     Canadian Thanksgiving, and I didn't mind that it was rainy and there wasn't much open ... the concierge tried calling one place for me, but also had no luck getting someone on the phone.  it truly is a day of rest for families to gather together - - no work!  I did however make a quick trip to the local grocery before it closed early, as I needed to get milk for my morning coffee, plus I splurged on raisin bread for toast, and found I could buy a single stick of butter, just enough for the week.  (I took this picture later at home in my comfy clothes, but I did prepare for the trip by getting a raspberry polka-dotted hooded rain poncho to match my burgundy rain boots.  I was complimented by another shopper on my matching rain gear!) 

DAY 6

     I continually monitored the weather, as I knew I wanted to go to Butchart Gardens on the one full day of sunshine that was being projected.  this second full day in town I chose to go to the Art Gallery in the morning when there would be showers, and I had arranged for an Afternoon Tea as well.

     this gallery has an eclectic mix of modern and traditional art, as well as visual learning sessions teaching of how the original peoples lived and how we need to restore the land with more sustainable methods.  it resides in a preserved or restored old historic home which has an authentic Shinto Shrine on the property.  it had a large space dedicated to a local artist who traveled the world and took lessons in Europe, and painted in a style I particularly enjoy. 

     after the Gallery I headed toward the harbor as it looked like I'd have good weather for a quick walkabout of the Parliament buildings.  I found a reasonably priced parking lot right down the block from the main thoroughfare, and walked around the buildings, taking photos of the statues, the annual Christmas tree, the harbor and the Empress. 

  

  

  

  

  

     I did a little more driving around Victoria, trying to find the Chinatown district, one of if not the largest Chinatowns in North America.  I did find the main drag, but parking and driving in this town are so difficult, I can understand why people walk most everywhere.  and it is very walkable if your ankles, knees and hips will cooperate!  I did go back to the timeshare to change my attire to be more High Tea appropriate, and set off to find the Tea House.  after a couple circles around the block, I found the small parking area and made my way into this lovely small hotel, garden, and afternoon tea destination!  I'm so glad I chose this instead of going to the larger more famous hotel for their more expensive and less personal Tea!  my waiter was very attentive and provided lots of explanations, and checked back frequently.  for dessert I was treated to a birthday-candle'd light and luscious tiramisu!  it was a delightful way to finish up a full day of activities. 

  

  

  

DAY 7

     I can't remember how I heard about it, possibly reading on the local map put out by either the ferry line or the timeshare, but I saw that there was a cider farm within an easy drive, and they were open to the public.  I got there early enough to be the only customer for some time, and enjoyed a flight of six ciders and a very delicious goat cheese, prosciutto, arugula and apple chutney grilled sandwich.  it was delightful talking with the owner who took the time to meet me as she was busily preparing the barn-like space with fall decor.  after lunch I walked a few steps into the orchard to take pictures of the trees and a big vat of freshly picked apples, then hit the road to return to Victoria.  on the way I stopped at a family owned pumpkin patch just to take some pictures of the seasonal setting. 

  

  

     and then it was out to the Fort and Lighthouse in the afternoon when it was projected to be clear weather.  the fort is an historical monument and had lots of displays about how it was used during WWII.  the lighthouse is still a functioning station, but there were areas of it we could tour if we walked all the way out to it.  there were geese everywhere! but they weren't aggressive at all. 

  

  

DAY 8

     this is the bucket list destination I've waited for fifty-one years to make my return.  in 1972 we drove on a two week family vacation from California through Montana into Alberta, over to BC and Victoria, and back down through Oregon, in a camper.  parts of it I wish to forget but I never forgot beautiful Butchart Gardens.  this vacation was planned with at minimum this destination in mind.  and it didn't disappoint.

     I took my sitting walking cane with me, not wanting to rent a scooter from an outside vendor (and endure all the issues that could crop up.)  I used as many of the wheelchair ramps as possible but still took many of the stairs.  I got there right at opening, and it was just slightly foggy, giving it an other-worldly feeling.  then the sun came out and it was spectacular. 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

     a couple miles away on a calm inner harbor there was the curiously named Blue's Bayou Cafe, it's similarly named cousin has hosted us for many of our birthdays, so I had to go here too.  I had a delicious fried green tomato and shrimp salad, and a local beverage called a Naked Cajun ... when in Rome!  

  

     then it was on to the next destination, a couple miles back toward Victoria are the Butterfly Gardens where they have ... a flamingo named Mango!   you knew that if there were a flamingo in Canada I would find it :-)  this is a delightful little botanical indoor garden housing many butterflies, a few birds and lots of tropical plants.  it was wonderful to just stroll through and sit and watch and listen. 

  

they knew what kind of marketing would get me in this destination! 
"walk this way!!"

  

  

and here was Mango, and some of his other feathered friends

 

  

near the exit I was astonished to see this plumeria tree, in full bloom although on the small side.  so far away from it's native habitat in Hawaii.  and throughout my stroll I tried catching a picture of the elusive beautiful blue butterflies.  I finally caught one just as I was nearing the exit.  perfect timing.

  

DAY 9

     this day was going to start out sunny and then turn to showers in the afternoon, so I planned my outdoor castle for the morning and my indoor castle for the afternoon.  my cousin Chris told me to "have fun storming the castle!"  I did!!  Hatley Castle is part of a working school, so the castle wasn't open for a tour.  it was also being used for a private event on this day, so a double-nope for me.  but the garden that I toured was beautiful.

  

  

  

     as I walked back to my car, I saw a young man pulling a large cart of audio or photographic equipment up the hill.  so I stepped off the narrow pathway to give way to him and ducked under this lovely old tree to take this singular photo of the geese.  everywhere.  there were geese!  I loved it :-)  when in Canada .... 

     these two castles are related ... the one I just viewed was owned by the son of the woman who ruled the one I was going to now.  Craigdarroch Castle was built by a wealthy businessman who died before he could spend much time there.  his wife dominated the lives of her children, and one of them built Hatley to prove his worth to her.  funny-not-funny how rich people behave.  it is a beautiful castle tho'

  

stained glass insets in the front doors

  

  

in the library

  

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  

in the music or entertaining room

  

  

  

  

  

a tradition of the day was to make a wreath of the hair of your loved ones.  I read it was of those who died, but the docent at this castle said it was from any loved one.  this one had hair from as many as 25 people.  this is how they kept memories before the days of constant selfies. 

  

  

  

     before I started the tour they warned me there were about 90 stairs up and as many back down, through all four floors of the castle.  here I've made it to the top, first looking up at the tower, then out of the tower. 

  

...and the stairs back down from the tower...

     this home - for it was a home - had all the modern conveniences, indoor plumbing, radiator heat.  the servants had modern tools for their use too, as you can see by this maid's room with sewing machine. in the hallway on each floor was a dumbwaiter opening and a laundry chute.  and there were speaking tubes on every floor as well! 

 

  

  

  

a panorama of one of the more complete rooms

this hair wreath, while larger, only had the hair of eight individuals

     after the mother passed away, the daughters inherited, and sold everything including the house.  it went through many changes, many of them institutional; most notably it was a hospital facility after the world wars, and in the 50s and 60s as a music school.  when local preservation forces reclaimed it as the historical landmark that it is, they went about trying to recreate the former estate as it had been.  the docent said it had about 10% of the original items, but they are trying for period accuracy. 

the smoking room; a large hall chair and coat tree

  

the formal dining room

  

when the house was used institutionally, the kitchen was modernized.

views of the castle from the back and the front

     in the Visitor's Center is a memoriam to the late great, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, recently honored as "Elizabeth the Good."  I wholeheartedly agree. 

     back at the timeshare, for dinner I realized it was a really short walk to Fisherman's Wharf so I didn't need to even move the car.  I was craving fish & chips since I hadn't had any yet, and I found the perfect spot and could even sit inside and drink an IPA along with it!  just what I needed.  on the walk back I stopped and took a picture of this driftwood horse statue at the art gallery across from the timeshare.  all the other times I passed it I was in the car, so this was perfect timing. 

looking back at the timeshare

this is the courtyard of the timeshare, right on the harbor

DAY 10

     having spent nearly the full week running all over the island, I opted to rest on Saturday, get my laundry done, and walk back over to the Wharf for another dinner, this time enjoying Onolicious Prawns, and another ale.  while the weather threatened, it held off until I was back under cover (I dined outside on their patio).  

  

  

DAY 11

     when I first started researching this trip, I thought it would be nice to attend a church service while in Canada, since it would probably be Church of England.  I found this cathedral in downtown, and read through their website.  they are conscientious of their parishioners, and they also involve the local low-risk offenders and give them purpose in the community.  I even listened to their Easter Service as I was working in our garden earlier this year!  I knew this would be the best place to attend, and it truly was. 

     when I first walked up to the back entrance, I was walking in with two lovely people who were scheduled to be greeters.  they welcomed me so warmly and asked me to sit with them during the service.  the wife walked me around the whole chapel, telling me about all the various areas - I told her I wasn't CofE or Anglican - and we had a lovely time talking about the similarities with other religions' practices ... so why do we have to disagree!? 

     It was a lovely service - - twice!  I went for the early service, but it didn't feature the pipe organ, which I knew was very special.  so I stayed for the second larger service which had the pipe organ and the larger more formal choir.  both services were so inspirational.  I had a delightful time chatting between services in the room where they serve tea and cookies, and all the lovely ladies I met were astonished and thrilled that their services were on my bucket list of things to do!  they were sad it was my last day and that I would be sailing away that afternoon.  they were telling me all the activities I should have done while I was there.  so worth it to think about coming back <3 

     I visited the "wash room" (what they call the loo) before hitting the road then found my way to some golden arches to get food before the ferry queue.  instructions said to be there at least 90 minutes before departure, since we had to get out of our cars and make declarations in their little customs building.  it was getting cold and rainy at that point, so I'm glad I went early enough that there wasn't much of a line.  I actually dozed off in my car in the queue, and was awakened when the border patrol person tapped (heavily) on my window with her baton.  I took another short snooze on the ferry ride back across.  

  

we passed the Crown Princess and Ruby Princess as
we were leaving the harbour
(spelling it properly for Canada one time here ;-)  ) 

     it's a good thing I had been rested, as the drive from the US ferry building to my eventual hotel two hours away was harrowing, in the rain, after dark, through unfamiliar terrain and dark forests with annoying Ass-U-Vs and trucks tailgating me mercilessly.  it was pretty much white-knuckle the whole way.  but I made it safely, and got a much needed full night's sleep.  

DAY 12

     the next morning I took advantage of the hotel's breakfast buffet and coffee, and left Olympia around 10:30 in the morning.  I got to Vancouver where I got a quick bite of lunch, and stopped at a World Market to purchase a tin of Alice in Wonderland tea (before this limited item was all sold out!)  I made it to Aunt Denali's by 2:00 when we picked up where we left off.  Grant came over and we all went out for dinner together.  Grant recommended their Bloody Marys (don't need to twist my arm) and their German Pancake (yes yes yes yes!!)  we had a rollicking good time talking and enjoying each others' company.  I stayed the night again, and again had wonderful morning coffee time with Aunt Denali.  I did more printing of pictures and confirmation of data for her so that her books were up to date. 

     one of the things I love and emulate about Aunt Denali - my kindred spirit - is that she decorates her home for all the seasons!  She has A ROOM with decorations for every single reason to decorate!!  I saw it.  I was IN IT!!!  I didn't take any pics of the fam while I was there, but I took this pick of me and Aunt Denali in front of her favorite Halloween painting painted by one of her kids (not gonna say which one - they know!) but look at the glee on our faces!!!!!  we had such a terrific time together!!

DAY 13

     All too soon it was time to head home, since I had to be early to work on Thursday morning, co-hosting a division meeting in our Folsom office <sigh>  and to have gone through two weeks' of email beforehand so I could "be prepared."   no rest for the weary.   but there was just one more stop - one more bucket list destination.....

     down the highway and a jog to the right from Portland is McMinnville and the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museums, the permanent home of the Spruce Goose!!   when I was in Long Beach a few years back for a birthday I thought it was there and was planning to see it.  but it had already moved ... to here.  and now, finally, here I am!  so excited to be 1. at an aviation museum and a space museum, and 2. to be right next to ... up close and personal ... to the actual Spruce Goose!!  yes, I took way too many pictures and these are just a small subset.  (really!)   ENJOY!

these docents sensed my excitement and were more than happy to guide me through this very large museum full of a lot of historical crafts!  if you find yourself anywhere near here, you really need to drop in on this museum!  

this is The Actual Spruce Goose in all her historical glory!  ...but first...

...then...

...panorama - too big for a single frame!

...and other craft...

...the war effort...

  

  

more segments of the fallen Berlin Wall

  

the space history made in my childhood

  

so glad I took this detour to see this part of my history!

    while I hoped to make it all the way to Ashland and spend a final night at their Cabaret Theatre, that didn't happen.  I dropped into a "simple" motel in Roseburg, and spent a quiet restful night there, the final one before the last 7+ hour leg home.  DAY 14 -  their light breakfast and caffeine is what I needed to get me to a mid-day Subway stop, and finally all the way home, safely, to rest up and be ready for work the next day!  What a glorious, joyous, informative, exciting, restful, surprising vacation trip this has been!

returning to the everyday

     while I was away, Craig was keeping busy in the garden.  he decided to get ambitious and pickled some of our produce - - he made pickled okra, and pepper and dill pickles as well.  not wanting to be outdone, I found a recipe for sweet bread and butter pickles, and made three quarts of those too.  I used the pickling spice I made earlier this year (for the corned beef) and added the other ingredients in the recipe.  they all turned out really tasty! 

     we caught up with Craig's sister Stephany and her hubby Jim at our new fave local pizza joint, Boston's, and shared four different flavors of their pizzas.  it was wonderful to spend quality time talking about loved ones.  [little did we know it would close permanently a few days later :'-( ]

     I had wanted to stay home on Halloween and hand out candy, but work hashed that up for me.  since I didn't want to drive -- never know what kind of mayhem and devilment will occur on the roadways! -- I took the train; but it still made for a very long day, and I got home after dark and after trick-or-treaters.  one good thing about the day ... Janet picked me up at the train station and dropped me at work, and we exchanged the presents we had gotten for each other on our trips!  I also gave her a jar of my home-made bread and butter pickles, which she loved.