Weekends

We have been having such an amazing time here. We both just can't wait for the weekend so we can explore and enjoy our home. This past weekend was particularly wonderful. We started it out right by slipping on our wetsuits and walking across the street to our little beach. Tobi desperately wanted to come so we buckled her little life jacket and let her tag along for comic relief. It was a clear sunny day with no wind. We walked right into the water and snorkeled around the rocky shores. At first Tobi freaked out a bit. She refused to walk out on the rocks. So I got out and walked down to a spot that had a more gradual shoreline so that she could kind of wade out if she wanted. Morgan snorkeled over to meet us. I hopped in and put my face in the water to see what was going on down there. And... it was beautiful. There were amazing little kelp forests swaying back and forth with tiny hawk fish and groupers scurrying around. What looked to be a bulb of kelp swam toward me in a zig zag pattern until I scooped it up to have a closer look. I am still not sure what it was. But it had legs and went limp when I took it out of the water. I put it back in and it went on its way. Minature starfish were everywhere, decorating the rocks like someone placed them there because they thought it would be cute. At the most it was maybe ten feet deep. It would be very shallow and thick with sea weed and kelp. Then I would come into a small clearing that was deep. Sometimes it was filled with round river looking rocks. Other times, rigged volcanic looking rocks covered in iridescent sand crabs and sea snails would be there. It was so relaxing. With my wetsuit I just floated like an otter as happy as can be. I convinced Tobi to swim out to me. To my surprise she did, about 20 feet or so. She got scared and climbed up on my back while I swam. I was laughing so hard. We swam over to some rocks and I left her there as I snorkeled near by. Could you just imagine an English Bulldog wearing a life jacket and sitting on rocks 20 feet off shore? Unfortunately that was when my camera stopped working. Then we all walked home and rinsed off. Its so nice to live so close so we don't have to worry about peeling off our wetsuits in a parking lot and getting them all sandy.
Later we took rocks out of the pond in our backyard that was filled in a few years back, and built up a vegetable planter. I went to Roller Derby practice for the first time that afternoon. Its good to be involved in it down here. All of the girls are totally nice and personable. Then I came home and we had Sarsaparilla and Ice cream floats,(since you cant get root beer here).
Today we went to church in the morning. I haven't found a church that I felt comfortable in for years. But this one is really nice. People are very casual, a little shy, and as they say, "non threatening." It was really nice of Morgan to come with me since I always feel a little like a target when I go to church by myself, getting bombarded with introductions and lots of questions. Anyway...
Then we stopped over at the farmers market to pick up some venison salami as well as gooseberry and brandy jam. At home we finished up the planter and the pond.Next week we hope to get some fish for it.
Now as the sun goes down, the chickens and the duck are wandering back to their little coop after a few hours of grazing, and Morgan and I are making home made garlic and cheese bread. Yum.
p.s. We finally got our Kitty back (eight days late). She was held in quarantine longer because the Ministry of Agriculture thought her anemia could be masking some weird, contagious disease. But of course she didn't. Anyway, after all that she is home and happy. The medication she is on is working and she has gained a lot of vigor. This morning she brought in a cicada that she had caught. The beetle clicked so loud that it woke Morgan. Nina has never been much of a hunter so it is good to see her actually catching things.