And We're In!

Ok, actually we've been in for a month now. Sorry 'bout that, bit of a let down for you I'm sure. But it's been bloody fantastic and I've been too too busy to catch you up-- forgive me? The only reason I have time now is that I'm back in Victoria for three weeks of summer teaching at Uvic, staying at my friend Tara's condo while she's away traipsing about Europe and attending very important conferences in Brussels, I think. I was awake at 5am but don't start in the classroom until 9... I've watered her plants, had breakfast, reviewed the text, but with no garden to weed and animals to feed/walk/water/deworm, I'm a little bored. Don't take that the wrong way!

Important Things That Have Happened Since We Last Chatted:

Two Important Things, actually. First, we're going to have a Grandbaby! My daughter Rebecca and hubby Dean are expecting mid-August. It's been wonderful watching the baby bump grow, and seeing Rebecca looking just beautiful in that glowy pregnant way. Because they live farther away from the hospital in Nelson than we do, they'll be moving in with us the week before she's due, and staying on for awhile after the baby's born. What a gift to be here and be part of it, and have the room to tuck them in and provide meals and clean nappies. A dream come true for me.

Important Thing #2: My son Luke and long-time partner Erika are getting married-- at our place, on the September long weekend! When he called to ask me if they could tie the knot at Flying Leap, I said 'of course, honey, no problem.' Then I hung up the phone and started hyperventilating, and Paul had to hold me by the shoulders and tell me to just breathe. Then we made lists. Two very long lists, one of Outside Things To Be Done, and the same for Inside Things. When I left last weekend for Victoria, I think we'd managed to scratch off two items total. But it's all good-- this will be another DIY wedding-- my favourite and tons of fun. We won't have beautiful beds of flowers for this year, but the place looks like a dream anyway when it's all mowed and tidied.

So here are some recent pics before I head off to campus:

We had a dinner party a few weeks ago, and I found the Perfect Radish to serve with our appies. It was crunchy-buttery-delish. Paul is eating kale, broccoli, peas, and mustard greens while I'm gone (under strict orders not to let the mustard go to seed).

And here is a shot of the kitchen. It feels amazing to be living in such a beautiful home, and it works really well, just as I expected. More later-- I must run to class!