Catching up.

Well, where to begin? It seems like it's been so long since we've walked together, doesn't it? I have been walking, though, but finding the time for photos, photoshop, putting together a post and thinking of what to say seems impossible lately. Even today...I have got to be out the door in about half an hour...it took so long to load these photos that I ran out of time...again. Yesterday, the rains returned but mostly the past couple of weeks have been hot and dry...really hot, some days. Not that I would ever complain about that. You know how thin my blood is. The arbutus and garry oaks out at Piper's Lagoon looked stunning against that summer sky, and the grasses are just now turning that delicious shade of yellow that glows so heartbreakingly golden in the sunsets. You know the yellow I mean, right? And the sunsets have been gorgeous lately, too.

At Bowen Park, we stumbled across this dapper fella. He wasn't too worried about us following him around with the camera. Lucky us.

Harewood Mines Road is stunning right now, too. The last of the huckleberries are getting wrinkley on the bushes, the grasses make the sound of a rattle when you walk through them. Eem-er and I have been walking up there in the early mornings before work to try and wear her out while I am gone. There are rabbits EVERYWHERE up there at 6:30 am...and the thing is this, Eem-er doesn't get worn out and the seperation anxiety is still very worrisome, ....today we meet with the U-Dog guy here in Nanaimo to begin working on this(and other) bothersome behaviour(s). Fingers crossed.

Got these chairs at the thrift store...hate that Southwest materiel, love the chairs. So off to the fabric store where I found this stellar materiel that matches the dark wood and my blue wall. Not too shabby, eh?

My garden...remember my garden? The passionflower is going nutters. Smells like candy. The kiwi vines are crazy but still not producing any fruit. Pretty much, the whole garden was a big disappointment this year. Such a late start to good weather, so few bees....we got some blueberries, a handful of raspberries, the lettuce is bonkers and the carrots are coming on...but the cukes didn't cuke, the pumpkins are dismal, no eggplants, no cantaloupe....sigh.

We did get peaches though!!!!!! Right now, I am finishing up an Apricot/Peach/Cranberry Chutney on the stove. We'll break it out for Thanksgiving. Although I will be in Washington for the Canadian Thanksgiving. I gotta get home and see my folks and friends. It's been too long. I'll just have to make my turkey when I get back. Also today, gotta make up another batch of Rhubarb Nectar to freeze for the winter months, AND get to the farmer's market to buy two pounds of Basil to make enough Pesto for the year....after meeting the U-Dog guy...sheesh, my days off are busier than the days I work.

I did sleep in one day, though.

Been falling in love, too. My next-door neighbour just got two puppies....one is for her mother-in-law, though I pleaded with her to tell her in-law that he(the pup) got lost in the shipping or something....

Nom nom nom....ooooooooooh, I lovers him so.

Eem-er discovered a rabbit living in the yard up the end of the block. Now she is obsessed and I have to be so very careful that she doesn't have any way to escape the house anymore. AAAiiiieeeeee!!!! As if we needed one more behaviour issue!!!!

And, of course, the Hood. There is an alley across Nicol Street that has become the new hangout. And, of course, the crackheads are congregating in groups of 20+ again. Same old mob mentality coming across, intimidating the folks that live there, harassing the residents. How bad will it have to get? How much garbage and filth will they leave behind and the city won't clean it or do anything about it? Anytime I go out on my porch, I can see them there. At night, the glow of crackpipes is like some sick, twisted Christmas tree. The drug deals and the open use of drugs happening right there just like it had been up here last year....deal after deal after deal being made. It's ridiculous.

And a whole new batch of hookers out now, too. It just never ends.

Well, looky that! Had enough yet?

My time is up and I am at the last photo. Go figure. So, I gotta go now, walk the dog, run a couple of errands, pick up some cash for U-Dog guy and the farmer's market, get home, meet the U-Dog guy, do Eem-er's evaluations, go to the farmer's market, come home, make two+ pounds of pesto, dinner, have a drink, collapse into bed and be back to work in the morning. I had four days off and I am exhausted!!!!

Talk at you later?