Home Fire's Burnin'

Carmen, Peter, and Wilson came over to see our new woodstove; Miranda spent the evening cuddled up with Nanny on the couch. This photo's a little blurry because I opted not to use the flash. It's all about atmosphere, baby!

Happy Birthday, Uncle Merlyn!

Steve and I brought our guitars to Merlyn's surprise 70th birthday party and launched into our own version of Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere, Man" (old-tyme country fans will recall the Hank Snow rendition) ...We managed to come up with no fewer than 88 place names from his impressive life experience! He was surprised, all right! Good thing we had a private room at JJ's Restaurant... And now we'll turn our talents (such as they are) to learning a few Yuletide numbers in the next few weeks. Hoho!

Lest We Forget

Here is Miranda on Remembrance Day, solemnly pondering (no doubt) her great-grandfather Alfred's service to his country in WWII. The service at the cenotaph on Bowen was attended by hundreds, and Miranda's Montessori school was one of several community groups to lay a wreath. The day was stormy, and we headed home to enjoy the warmth of our newly-installed woodstove (which really came in handy in the ensuing two-day power outage--but why didn't we buy that generator? that's next on the wish list!)...We had a wonderful visit with Carmen, Peter and Wilson, then our neighbour Claire came over to see the new stove, and Cheryl and Raia joined us for a candlelit dinner later. On Monday, both my parents were here (Dad is recovering from post-operative complications from eye surgery). Did I mention we've put up the Christmas lights? (never too early...) Life is very full these days, so it's good to step back and feel thankful to those who (directly and otherwise) have made it all possible.

Whooooooo?

All Hallow's Eve, the Feast of All Souls, Hallowe'en...by any name, it's a unique Bowen tradition as celebrated here. People book time off work to set up very elaborate displays with lights, ghosts, fog, skeletons, graveyards, and other spooky effects, and children come from all over the Island to our Deep Bay neighbourhood (parents bring candy to residents here!)... All trick-or-treating ends at 7:30 so young and old can attend a fireworks party at the Lagoon. Boo-tiful!