May 02 - 17, 2010

The last 17 days have been busy, busy, busy. Melissa and baby came on the 5th and stayed 10 days. Melissa was a big help and so was baby. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with them both. It has been a very long time since we had a 5.5 month old in the house. They are so full of wonderment and intrigue. Everything is new everyday and there are discoveries everywhere.

The dock has been washed and the top deck as well. The gift shop is done and the store is being stocked. The washroom and shower are almost complete and the new dock to shore is on its way. George has been really busy and Melissa helped out alot.

George brought the washer and dryer back with him, so the laundry area is also almost complete.

We have had a few boats already and have made pizza for them. Since the restaurant is not quite ready to open, we made the pizza at the house and delivered them to the boats. Yesterday, Tippe-Canoe and Nirvana were here and we all enjoyed pizza, salad (thanks Naty) and chocolate cake and ice cream. The restaurant had its first seating, even though the pizza was baked at the house. Too bad we could not bring the bakery oven up to the house for the winter. Wishful thinking I would say.

The lawn was mowed today and it took me all afternoon. It is very lush and has been growing like a weed. Oh wait - the lawn is mostly weeds!!. It looks nice and green anyway.

I will be at the Chatham Channel Post Office tomorrow to relieve Jenny as she has to go to town. My first job for another company in over 14 years. I had been basically self employed since then working for our own companies.

The weather is now cooperating and planting time is almost upon us. I am excited to get the garden planted and the flowers out.

April 20 - May 01, 2010

It has been a slow haul trying to get everything done. The weather does not want to cooperate at all. When it is nice, we work to catch up.

The laundry area is almost done, pressure washing the dock to get the slime off is tedious and time consuming, but the gift shop is almost done, just a few more shelves. Product has arrived and I am impressed. Jenny from Chatham Channel brought her items this morning between sun showers. Everything looks good!!

George had his three month check up and returned on Wednesday. Everything is fine and he has graduated to a six month check up now. I was hoping to get alot done while he was gone, but again Mr. Weatherman did not cooperate. I was able however to get caught up on the books.

George brought lots of goodies back with him. Our washer and dryer are now ready to install, just have to get the coin slots and boxes, which unfortunately were not included. When ordered, I assumed it was included because it did not say that it wasn't. Never assume!! lol.

Melissa and baby will be here next week and we are very excited and are counting the sleeps. 4 MORE!! Mother Mary will be here in June for a visit. It was a very nice surprise when we received her e-mail stating she booked a ticket.

She has never been here in June and I hope she will be surprised at the hummingbirds.

They are hungry, hungry little creatures. They are a real joy to observe. Hopefully we can put a feeder at the store this year.

Two deer wandered through the yard a couple of weeks ago. It was nice to see and yesterday we saw our first black bear across the estuary. We were starting to wonder where they were as we usually see them by now.

The sun is shining through the windows and the wind has stopped. Hopefully it stays that way, I mean really this is May 1!! time for some heat!!

Feb 28 - April 19, 2010

I can't believe how the time has flown by. It is almost the end of April and we still have things to do- the dock and top deck need a good pressure wash. Shells galore and green slime from the rain! Grass needs to be cut again. It was done once already. Garlic oil needs to be sprayed on the lawn to keep the mosquitoes away. So much to do and so little time!! Some things cannot be done until it warms up and the rain stops (if it ever will!!)

I was in Alberta for two weeks at the beginning of March. I had a great time with Melissa, Darren, Signe and Christine. Signe has grown sooo much. Melissa and her will be here in May for 10 days. Exciting times. Christine will be here in June.

Our brother-in-law, Gary is here right now for 8 days. He has not been here for two years, right after we bought the barge, and was quite surprised at the change. It looked quite derelect when we first bought it. He has been busy helping George with the new dock section and walkway to the ramp. Now if the rain will only stop ( we did have some nice days though so can't complain).
George has almost got the washrooms and laundry done. He also decided to create a gift store in the barge. It is the room behind the counter. I was busy painting the ceiling and floor.

We received items for the gift store and I have been arranging them. He have featured local Vancouver Island artisans in our store. We will also be featuring some of Just Jen's items (from Chatham Channel Lodge) and Steve's leather work. There will be recycled glass items, pottery, raindrops and crystal, sand blocks and pyramids, Island Art Cards and Matted Cards, Postcards, Rocky Mountain Soap (which all natural), leather works, hoodies, homemade items and books. Just Jen has a variety of items too numerous to list. We will be adding to this as the summer goes on.
George will be going for his three month check up again at the end of the week. He will be bringing the new washer and dryer back with him.
We have our first boat of the season at the dock tonight, the Kirkwall with Art and Di. They were our first boat last year and our first boat this year. We were happy to see them. They both look healthy and are on an early start to Alaska. Art helped George and Gary with the new dock section. Thank you Art.

Jan 26-Feb 26, 2010

The month has gone by fast. George is back from his check up and has been busy working on the addition to the barge. Just yesterday, all the walls were finally up on the upstairs and the door to nowhere is now to somewhere.

Downstairs will be a washroom, shower and laundry. I helped raise the walls, which I did not like because I do not like heights. It was done none the less.

We had the highest tide we had ever seen on Jan 30. Note the firepit. Now I know why there is flotsam on the flower beds.

Our nephew Ryan and his daughter Haley were here for a few days at the beginning of February. Ryan was here two years ago (remember the bobcat in the water!) and Haley was here three years ago. She is four years old now and will be in Kindergarten in the fall. Her birthday is in December so she can go a year early. Ryan was surprised at the changes. I hope they come back this summer.

The day Ryan and Haley left, I also went to Campbell River. Our daughter Christine was arriving in Comox the next morning. She was here for a week and was also surprised at the changes. She had helped renovate the barge to what it is now. She is also the one responsible for building the walkway on shore. She will be here for the summer and we are looking forward to her help. She is quite excited.

I am hoping to go back to Alberta for a week in March to see our Signe, Melissa and Darren. She has grown so much and is now 3 months old. It will be nice to have them here for awhile this summer.

Spring was here briefly for week and luckily it was while Christine was here. It rained while Ryan was here but it did not stop Haley from being outside. We even went down the logging road to the gravel pit at the top of the hill. We pulled the trailer with the lawn tractor (wanna be quad) and Ryan, Haley and I rode on the trailer. We went to get wood. Bear even liked to ride the trailer as she is getting old and she gets tired. It is a long, long way up the road. Haley figures that Bear does not have enough toys.

Christine went kayaking and was quite disturbed that 5 seals decided to follow her. She did not like that at all!! Her and I also went on the mail run and quite enjoyed ourselves. Christine was able to take some wonderful pictures.

The flowers do not know what time of year it is. The snow drops are blooming as well as the primroses (about a month early). The tulips, daffodils and grape hyacinths are in bud and some are blooming. Even the peonies are sprouting out of the ground. We still expect a cold spell so I hope they do not die. I have been told that it has been an unusally warm winter, but wet and windy.

March is two days away. As they say beware of the ides of March. We will see what it brings.