Busy, Busy, Busy ~ Merry Christmas

Our annual christmas party and what a great time we had.  Good cheer, good food, and great friendship.

We play games - here is yours truly decorated as a christmas tree - yeppers - we won first prize!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Let The Christmas Baking/Cooking/and what have you...begin...

I love pickled eggs!  Due on December 8th, 2017 - can't wait!  27 fits in the jar - and all will be enjoyed!

Gords' Chain Of Sorrow

Recently, a dear friend of mine died from cancer.  I was not able to make it to the Celebration of Life, but celebrated with many happy thoughts of our friendship through out the years.

Back in the 70's Gord and I traveled to Vancouver, B.C. to see John Prine.

Now, in 2017 here I read on the back of Gords' memorial card...

...you can gaze out the window, get mad and get madder ~ throw your hands in the air ~ say what does it matter ~ but it don't do no good to get angry so help me I know ~ for a heart strained in anger grows weak and grows bitter ~ you become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there ~ wrapped up in a trap of your very own Chain of Sorrow - John Prine

Prine Wonderful. . .

Once a month, us ladies of the lake and surrounding areas get together for Ladies Night.  We have a few spirits, play darts (crib/bean bag) and in general have a good time lip flappin'.

Last night I was sitting having my spirit with two other ladies, one which mentioned she was from Ireland.  I asked, well - which part of Ireland are you from.  Donegal.  hmm...I thought I think this is part of the heritage of Fiona Whelan Prine.  I reply...do you know of John Prine...oh for the love of Prine ...she starts singing That's The Way That The World Goes Round...

and that's the way that the world goes round...it Prines' even on the mountain side.  

Bernadette Bruno

Bernadette Bruno is the name I have given to a black bear that comes near to being a permanent residence here on the mountain side.  He/she is a good bear; although it does frightened the hell out of me when I am not watching my surroundings.  In general Bernadette Bruno is a pleasure to watch.  Here are a few pictures.

Eating berries.  About 5 feet away from the porch steps. 

It has heard something on the main road.

My favorite picture and still eating berries!

Happy Birthday John Prine

and many more to come.  Cheers!

Barkerville - the ladies of the lake

Oh, what fun we had - us ladies of the lake.  Our Barkerville trip was beyond, we were a quite different group of folks.  How great was Barkerville to accomodate us with an electric scooter and a walker.  Some of us are not well in health.

We laughed and giggled so much.  We went on a tour of Barkerville 

Took our photo with these fine, fine gentlemen...and then...

Gold!

Yep, I got gold.  

"Cause you got gold ~ gold inside of you" ~ John Prine

John Prine - Artist of the Year 2017

Finally, the labor of the love of music that John Prine has is bearing fruit.

Smucksville, do you think when you say John Prine, folks will say...John Who...

Oh yes, they will! 

Congratulations to John Prine, his family/friends/relations, and the staff at OhBoy Records. 

All The Best for continued success, health and happiness.

Barkerville, B.C.

One of my friends here on the mountain side has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.  She called to me about a month ago, we talked about our bucket lists. On her list was a trip to Barkerville, B.C. which is a historic site, an old gold mining town.  I told her well, hells bells, lets just do it.  I organized some other ladies from the mountain side to which I thought would be interested and we went.  There were a few bumps in the road, for sure.  The accommodation I first booked bumped us off.  However, I was glad to fine a very nice, comfortable hotel with joining rooms...The Hubs Motel.  It was great.

Barkerville was a blast for the ladies of the lake.  I have never laughed so much like I did that weekend.  We went on a free guided tour of Barkerville which was excellent.  We took several pictures of the folks working in Barkerville, mostly the men folk and it was pure delightful for us ladies...here is one of them

The shops are very quaint, they are in the time of Barkerville in its' glory.  The lure of gold still remains to this day.  

Here is a photo of Gold!

Best Photo of all was when us ladies entered a photoshop to which they dress you in the time period.  Here was ours, it is golden.

Yeppers, I am the only one who opted to dress as a saloon lady, the others went the western way.

How thankful it is to have great friends - such fun we had.  A treasured memory for all.

Our Home/The Mountain Side

The forest fire has subsided because of much cooler temperatures and some minimal rain.  The brutality of the wild fire is massive.  I recently took a road trip to purchase vegetables/fruits at the garden stand and looked first hand at what a wild fire can do.  Houses that once were are no more, it is purely devastating.  Many thanks to the Red Cross - without these folks many folks would have been left stranded.  I am thankful after we left on the alert, we came back to a home still standing.

What A Summer!

Yikers!  Everywhere around me seems to be burning up.  Still on evacuation alert.  The forests around us are burning up.  Very fallen, stressful situation.  Hope for the best ~ expect the worst.