Nov14

November 13

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November 13

Yesterday was quite an interesting Friday the 13th. I gave up being superstitious years ago and decided to do some touristy things in Summerland.

My first stop was the library. I showed my new local ID (driver’s license and health card) and now have a library card to add to my collection. But I miss my Cashmere Library and its small town feel.

From there I wandered down to the Museum. Once again it made me think of Washington, this time Wenatchee. Exhibits on the main floor and a model railroad on the second floor.

Despite the fact that it was a dreary cloudy day for a change, I opted to sit outside at the park for a while. Children from a nearby daycare were happily playing on a climbing apparatus. A man was throwing a stick which his dog happily retrieved over and over again. I chatted briefly with a woman walking her dog.

I thought of my brother yesterday. Earlier in the week he’d messaged me that the house we’d grown up in was now on the market. And he had arranged a viewing. I haven’t heard back from him yet. We grew up in that home together, but I’m sure we have very different memories of our childhood.

And then I opened the breaking news report. A complete ground stop in the USA. The airlines and the airports have been deluged with problems for a while now, but this is different. And I wonder if we will ever learn the truth behind the ground stop and not just what the government wants us to hear.

I went to a Christmas Craft Fair this morning for the first time in over a decade. In Mexico I usually enjoy strolling through the street markets at this time of year. But I was glad we were indoors today. My body is still screaming at me to go somewhere warm.

The sun is actually peaking through the clouds today. It was too cold for coffee on the deck this morning, but perhaps an herbal tea before the sun hides behind Giants Head Mountain.

Have a great weekend!

Nov3

I Enjoy These Reminders

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I Enjoy These Reminders

Every day I check my Facebook memories. They’re great reminders of how I’ve grown and how I’ve changed over the years. They’re reminders of where I’ve lived and who I’ve lived with over the years.

One of today’s reminders dates back to when I lived in Oak Bluff, Manitoba. While I had been teaching shallow water aquasizes, eighteen years ago today I taught my first deep water class at the YMCA in Winnipeg. Not bad for someone who was always terrified of the water for most of her life.

Then come all the memories of Day of The Dead Celebrations. Catrinas, Alters, Cemeteries, Parades, Parties. Culiacan, Mazatlan, Tlaquepaque,Zapotlanejo, San Ciro,Aguascalientes and even once in Cashmere, Washington.

But today is November 3, 2026. While I’m currently in Canada, midterm elections are going on in the USA. The results will start pouring in later on today. A very serious reminder that we will all be affected no matter where in the world we live or what our citizenship.

Oct30

Friday Feelings

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Friday Feelings

October ends tomorrow. That means it’s Halloween tomorrow night. In 2016 I volunteered at Light The Night at a church in Leavenworth, Washington. After that it’s become a blur of Dia De Los Muertos. It seems strange not to be wandering down to El Centro in Aguascalientes to admire the Catrinas and the Alters. And Summerland sure doesn’t decorate the way Cashmere does for Halloween.

I was perusing my morning newsfeeds and emails while listening to The Monkees on Spotify. Really? Bubble Gum music from the sixties? It was what I was in the mood for. But don’t worry. Once I get down to my WIP the music will change.

While it’s not raining or hailing today, it’s too cold to sit out on the deck sipping coffee. Makes me wonder what I’m in store for this winter. Last time I experienced a Canadian winter was back in 2009. So please keep me in your prayers.

Speaking of prayers, I am so grateful for Zoom so that I can participate in a women’s Bible Study. I’ve been in this one for almost five years and the other ladies have become good friends although we only occasionally meet up in person. We’re all a great source of support for each other and I look forward to Tuesday mornings.

And speaking of mornings, my driver picked me up at 9 am yesterday to go grocery shopping. Those of you who know me are well aware that I am not a morning person. While I am usually up early, I don’t like to venture out until the afternoon. So my act of defiance was to sleep in until 10 this morning.

It’s now after 1 and time to dive into my WIP. The outline is just about complete although I may still add a twist or two. Writing fiction is just too much fun!

Whatever you’re celebrating this weekend, enjoy and stay safe!

Oct14

It Was Supposed To Be Only Once

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It Was Supposed To Be Only Once

I left Winnipeg in 2010 to teach English in Mexico for one year. ONE year.

In 2016 I flew to Seattle from Mazatlan to visit a friend in Leavenworth. ONE visit.

I guess ONE just isn’t in my vocabulary. At least not yet. Mexico has been home for sixteen years and Washington State has been home for ten years.

And now I’m in Summerland, BC, Canada. ONE winter.

My body is screaming at me, “You idiot! So what if there are hurricanes? You should be packed and on your way back to Mexico for the winter.”

And my mind is protesting too. “You missed all those gorgeous leaves in Leavenworth! And what about your tree in Cashmere?”

That requires a little explanation. I’ve been photographing a red maple tree in Cashmere since 2016. I’m not there so my friends are visiting my tree and taking pics. Ann has been there twice already and she dragged Connie along with her the other day. They both live in Leavenworth. They tell me the tree isn’t doing so well. Does it miss me too?

But I’m adapting to life in Canada. The atmosphere here is certainly different than in Washington State or in Mexico. And I’m not referring to air quality.

This past weekend we celebrated Thanksgiving in Canada. The people I rent from are amazing and included me in their family holiday dinner. What a memorable time! Dinner on the beach with wonderful people and great food. I am truly thankful.

So while I am slowly assimilating into the Canadian way of life again, I am thankful for Zoom and video calls. That still keeps one foot in my two other countries.

Happy Humpday!

Sep30

Oh Canada

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Oh Canada

Only Canada would have some kind of national holiday on a Wednesday in the middle of the week; National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Whatever. Guess it doesn’t matter what province you live in, you can’t escape this garbage.

But there’s always a silver lining to every cloud. My granddaughter had a day off school today. So my daughter and granddaughter came here from West Kelowna to see me. I haven’t seen them in two years and it was really a special time. We visited for a while and they checked out my winter home. We went out for ice cream and sat outside in the sun and chatted for quite a while. It’s the first time in sixteen years that we’re actually living in the same country.

Another day, another notice from Canadians Abroad. I think I finally figured out a way to stop receiving emails from them. All my other attempts have proven unsuccessful. And to make it even more annoying, they are sent in French.

Last week I finally got End Zone (the third book in the trilogy) up on Amazon. I’m now leaving Bayside far behind and have starting writing a new novel. The atmosphere here in Summerland is peaceful and very conducive to writing. I’m not enrolling in Novel November or any other program. I’m just writing as the inspiration hits me.

It’s been a wonderful humpday.

Sep20

A September To Remember

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A September To Remember

I’m usually somewhere in Washington State at this time. But this year is different. I’m in Canada. While the view here is beautiful , I miss the magnificent view of The Cascades. And I’ve been warned that the spectacular colors of the leaves in the fall are not going to be quite as spectacular here.

I’m in Summerland, BC. I love the place I’ll call home for the next six months. The casita I’ve rented has exceeded my expectations. I will be more than comfortable here and will also enjoy the amazing peace and tranquility. This is an ideal spot for writing, far away from sirens and barking dogs.

In the morning I sit out on the deck with my coffee and watch the birds splash about in their bird bath. The babies dart about across the lawn. Other than robins, I know little about birds. So please don’t expect me to elaborate on the different types of birds that congregate here.

There are orchards and wineries in abundance here. The other day I had the juiciest pear I’ve eaten in years; hence the pic for this post.

I plan to finally get End Zone published this week. It’s nice to have reliable high-speed internet again. I had originally hoped to publish while I was in East Wenatchee, but the internet was slow and unreliable.

I’ll end with a mother’s boasting rights. At the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships held in Winnipeg last week, my daughter was a gold medalist. Congrats Kimmy!

Sep6

Lasts and Farewells

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Lasts and Farewells

The last two weeks are the most difficult and are a little on the depressing side. It’s a time of saying goodbye to good friends as well as final hours of volunteering. It’s also usually a time of looking forward to returning to Mexico for the winter, and to the friends and activities there. But this year its different. I’m spending the winter in Canada. And I have no idea where I’ll go next.

Last week I said goodbye to my friends in my writing group and in my book club. One last lunch at Foothills Community Center. Yesterday was the last movie at Gateway for a while. I did church online today to get a break from goodbyes. There are lots more coming this week.

Volunteering in Cashmere this week will be a good distraction. Chelan County Fair, Cashmere Community Church and 9/11 ceremony at Spirit of America. Thursday night will be my last small group and I will miss everyone dearly. Two of them are even driving me up to Canada next Saturday.

But it gets harder every year to say goodbye to my close friends. I’ve been coming up here to Washington State since 2016. We volunteer together, we go to church together, we go to movies together, we go to Leavenworth Summer Theater together, we go to concerts together, we go out for meals together, we travel together…we spend hours together talking and have become family over the years.

I’m also doing the final edit of End Zone, which I still hope to publish before I leave next weekend. And of course I have to pack.

.Farewell from Washington. Next post will be from Canada.

Aug26

Humpday Ho Hum

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Humpday Ho Hum

One day you can see the mountains and the next day they vanish. It’s wildfire season. I’ve been coming here for ten years now and this is the worst year yet. And there’s no reprieve in sight.

Hiding inside with air-conditioning is the new norm although we can still smell the smoke inside. Even when we’ve gone to the cinema you can smell the smoke indoors. There is no escape.

Tomorrow we’re off to Waterville for the NCW Fair. We’ll be armed with our n95s. Everything is outdoors.

Another day of final editing in the third book of the trilogy. Determined to get it published before I leave. And I’m leaving earlier than usual this year.

Let’s lighten this post up with some humor.

Little Johnny asks his mom, “Mommy, where do babies come from?”
Mom sighs, decides it is time for the talk, and explains the facts of life in detail.
When she finishes, she asks, “Do you understand now, Johnny?”
Little Johnny nods and says, “Not really. But it makes sense. My friend Timmy said he came from Cleveland, and I was just wondering where I came from.”

Aug6

AQI (Air Quality Index)

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AQI (Air Quality Index)

Here in East Wenatchee the smoke has been relentless. There are several local and regional wildfires. The Little Giant Fire just northwest of Leavenworth seems to be having the greatest impact.

The AQI was over 850 the other day when I returned to Wenatchee from Cashmere. Link Transit shut down all public transit and they’re threatening to do it again today.

A member of our writers group is a retired doctor and he passed out masks at our meeting yesterday. Being outside for one hour is akin to smoking six cigarettes. He has advised that the real damage to our lungs may not be seen for another ten years if we continue to go outside unmasked when the AQI is so high.

I miss the view of the mountains. The air is too thick with smoke.

My heart goes out to the more than 65,000 who have been evacuated from the Spokane area.

Highways are closed and activities are canceled.

Washington State is on fire.

Jul25

Church Shopping

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Church Shopping

One of my closest friends is Catholic and refers to all non-Catholic churches as Protestant. She is also amused by all the Protestants who go church shopping. Apparently Catholics don’t tend to do this.

The other day we were talking and I was telling her about my quest for a new church this summer. When I’m in Mexico, it’s strictly online church for me, although I occasionally attend a mass at one of the Catholic churches nearby. But I admit that online I do frequent different churches.

This past winter, I tuned in to Church of the Rock in Winnipeg for Christmas and Easter services. This is where I was baptized in December of 2009. But my regular Sunday church was North Coast, which a friend from California had recommended.

But back to church shopping in Washington.

I first arrived in Leavenworth in the summer of 2016. Steve attended the Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene so it was only logical that this become my church too. And it was indeed my church until 2019. I volunteered at Light The Night, VBS and did children’s ministry.

When Covid reared it’s ugly head in 2020, I was finally able to return to Leavenworth from Mexico in September that year, rather than the usual April. I then moved to Dryden where one of my housemates attended Sage Hills Church in Wenatchee. I switched churches as I was disillusioned by the politics at the church in Leavenworth.

While I enjoyed the preaching, Sage Hills was a huge church with little opportunity for me to meet people and get involved. Everything was winding down when I returned in the spring and it was just starting up again when I left for Mexico in the fall. I next tried out three churches in the Cashmere and Dryden areas. As I was living in East Wenatchee, I wanted a church closer to home.

In the fall of 2024, I discovered Breath of Life Church in East Wenatchee. It fit the bill. When I returned in the spring of 2025, I had the opportunity to meet people and then volunteer at VBS in the summer.

But when I returned to East Wenatchee this year, Breath of Life Church had politics going on. But mostly the preaching had lost its verve after the amazing sermons I’d watched from North Coast. Also, Breath of Life didn’t stream in Mexico although every other church in Washington State did.

Growing increasingly frustrated, I finally made the move. I now attend Columbia Grove Covenant Church in East Wenatchee. I am most impressed with the sermons I’ve heard, and the people are very welcoming.

I’m done shopping.