wind at our backs

CASSIDY'S WEDDING

We made it back into Canada around the end of April. Luckily in time to see George and Cassidy tie the "knot" (he's a fisherman...get it ??? LOL)

The brides Dad (Rick), Mom (Dana) and a family freind (Sue)

The wedding was beautiful (just like the bride) and the food was amazing as well....yummy treats for desert.

One of our Ya Ya's got married this summer on the beach in Qualicum Bay...they had a very sweet wedding service with all their family and friends attending. Then the party started with everyone camping at the campground and enjoying each other. Fun was had by all.

But of course you have to have a shower first....
We went to the second hand stores and found her a lovely veil to wear for her shower....

And everyone pitched in and made a great meal for her...Sylvie checking out the lasagna

We had the shower at Julie's house that we decorared all in blue...something borrowed, something blue, something old and something new and all that jazz!

And our freind Sue, gave Sylvie the only gift that a woman who has it all could possibly need.

A condom garden of course....just add water and watch them grow

WE ALL LAUGH SO HARD!!!!! Congratulations Sylvie and Norm

NAWLIN'S BASH

I know that Daniel said that he didn't want a birthday party, so I decided we should have a Nawlin's party (Nawlin's is how the folks in Louisianna pronounce New Orleans) We had so much fun in New Orleans and fell in love with the city. I thought it would be a great idea.
So here are some of the masks we brought back from the mardi gras city.
The gals on the deck at Tony's

The food is wonderfull in New Orleans. They have such a influence from Africa, France, Spain that the food is diverse and full of different flavors to please your palate. The dinner menu included chicken and andulli sausage gumbo, "muffalletta's and bread pudding. Oh, of course, we had "hurricanes" .They are a very very very potent drink made with equal parts of dark rum and fruit punch mixture. You can only have one...really, you should only drink one unless you like to be put in jail and wake up with a new tatoo. LOL

The gals are in the kitchen helping me hold togeather the Muffalletta's. Mom, Me, Teresa and Carol is hiding on the left.

They are usually on a bun, but I couldn't find the right buns up on the island so I opted for a french bread.
The stuffing is ham, pastrami, hard salami, provolone cheese and then topped off with olive salad. I brought home 2 jars of that yummy stuff. Then you put it all on a toasted bun and ENJOY

Some of the gang that joined us for the party. Marianne, Julie, and Dana.

The Lawsons' on the deck. See all the beads hanging in the trees???
Mike Jr., tony, Frank and Mike Sr.

THE BIRTHDAY'S

We had a couple of birthday celebrations while we were there as well.

One of them was for Dana. She decided that she wanted to spend it with her freinds at "The Dingy Dock Pub" just off the shores of Nanaimo. You hop on this little passenger ferry for a short boat ride to the floating pub...the food was good and the company even better. This is the Nanaimo harbour where we pick up the boat over.

Dana's daughter Cassidy brought her balloons to help celebrate (waiting for the boat)

A very happy birthday gal...Dana enjoying her gifts and yummy cake and cocktails too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HAROLD...this is Harold, Daniels coworker on the house projects. I am not sure what # his birthday was but he had a big smile and some good cake too.

Thanks for the birthday cake....it was yummy too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIEL.....He didn't want a birthday party but we got him down to the pub for some cake and a couple hugs and few drinks. That's his friend, Billy beside him

And a hug from Dee as well.

Frank and Patti were there as well to help celebrate...

A nice present of cheese cake for Daniel

and then Happy Birthday to me..... I love my birthday. It is the best day of the year. It's for you and you alone. You get to have all your freinds with you and have some laughs and good food. (If you have my friends lol)

Mom and Jim and Uncle Ron on the deck at Joe and Julies's place. Great deck for parties

Rick and Rick and Robin waiting for the yummy steak dinner Joe is cooking for us.

Gayle and Rick and Rick and Robin. Check out the awesome steaks Joe has on the BBQ for us all

And what party would be complete without the talking parrot singing you birthday songs....lol

HORNBY ISLAND ADVENTURE

My Uncle Ron (who is a character and a half) has a family plot of land on a island just off of Vancouver Island. Well, actually off 2 islands. First you have to go from Vancouver Island on a ferry to Denman Island and then cross the island and then you take a ferry from Denman to Hornby Island.

This pic above is the ferry landing on Denman that goes to Hornby. Just where the island ends on the right is where Uncle Ron's cabin is. So once we got onto Hornby Island, we have to go around the island and then head back west again to get to Ford's Cove.

The road there is lovely twisty and turny. This spot is going down towards the ocean and Ford's Cove. There is a large farm on the left and a gorgeous view over to Vancouver Island.

Uncle Ron's place... the dog loved it here. Her name is Cleo. The boys were making burgers for us

Julie and I set out to scope out the land. We found a upper area that could hold campers or RV and a whole other house belonging to Ron's daughter. They also have outdoor showers and a "Clam Bar" I found out that the family holds a oyster lease right in Ford's cove. Too bad we didn't know that when we were there.

We also set out to do some beach combing. Joe, Julie, Cleo and myself braved the cold but Daniel said No Way and stayed in the truck. tee hee
He did come out later though

This is a huge peice of driftwood that was put up like this. It actually marks the start of the provincial campground there. There are two great beaches here. You can actually see the bottom of the ocean for quite a ways and apparently it is so nice and warm to swim in in the right season. We were here in October so it was a little cold.

It actually got really windy and stormy that night. Joe noticed some fishing boats pulling into Ford's cove to take cover from the high winds and rain. We on the other hand were enjoying a great crab dinner that Julie and I made. It was Joe's birthday that day, so we celebrated. There is a great seafood store on the island right where you catch the first ferry, so we picked live crab from there to take over for dinner. They all kicked my butt in crib that night....

The next day the weather had done a complete turn around and the ocean was calm as glass. This is looking back at Uncle Ron's place from the government dock in Ford's Cove.

The community on Hornby Island is very artsy and you can enjoy quaint sites all around. The "bird houses" at Uncle Ron's place.

And a "shipwreck"

The dog on gaurd at the coffee shop around the corner from the cabin....closed for the season but they have a great convenience store right there as well.

A great overnight was had by all...we ate, drank, played games and had a blast. Even Cleo was tuckered out!!!!
Thanks Uncle Ron for the use of the cabin....

Lunch with Judi

My friend Judi has a lovely boat that she keeps in Deep Bay. Deep Bay is a quite little community just north of Qualicum Beach.

It really only has the marina and some beautiful homes on and near the ocean.

She treated me to lunch and some wine on her boat one day....

We didn't actually even leave the slip but enjoyed the sun and some great conversation too. She makes yummy healthy snacks.

Thank you Judi. Nothing like some sunshine, some wine, good food, and great chats...

PORT ALBERNI TOY RUN

PORT ALBERNI TOY RUN SEPT 2008

The run starts at Qualicum Falls on the south side of the Port Alberni "hump" and heads west to the coast to a town called Port Alberni. The run has evolved into quite the turn out. This year when I registered I was #1164 but the final count was around 2000 motorbikes registered. And not everyone registers.

The idea is that everyone brings a new toy or gives a cash doanation to the charity that helps bring presents or helps with needs at Christmas time for the peopel in the area.

So, we started off the day in fine form. We all gathered at Rick and Dana's and of course had some baileys and coffee. Warm up the tummies...

This was the view from where we were in line to go to Port Alberni. They do a shot gun start and Santa leads the way. It is normally about 30 mins to the other side. We didn't even start our bikes until 30 mins after the shot gun and it took us 1 1/2 hours to get to the hall.

At the hall, they have bike games, pig roast and a beer garden for the big kids. Inside they have face painting, games, bouncey rooms, food and other activities for the little kids.

I got to see a whole bunch of my friends that I hadn't had a chance to hook up with since I was home. And some that I have already seen .... Lisa, Dawn and me...YIKES