Monthly Archives: September 2026

Sep30

Oh Canada

Posted on by
Standard
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

Posted on by
Standard
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

Posted on by
Standard
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.