Summer Highlight Reel

It's so good to be back in the blogosphere, even if it is to report the difficulty as of late. I am extremely grateful and touched by the outpouring of support, near and far, particularly in light of the fact that my energy has made reciprocating and keeping up correspondences such a challenge for so long.

Please know that each and every email, call, letter and kind deed mean the world to me and, despite cancer being an unwelcome guest, living with it has invited so many incredible people into my life, some I have never even met.

On that note, I think maybe, just maybe, I am starting to feel a wee bit better (though I am up at 2 am because my feet were so on fire in bed, I thought I was going to tear them off). However, bowl of Haagen Daz now in hand (which is tempting to slather on my feet), I thought I would post some photos of a few of summer highlights before I became the Itchy & Scratchy Show.

Some of you may recall our "refurbishment" last year of a little Boston Whaler. I am happy to report that Suzy Spitfire (long story) got back on the water this summer...

We designed a new decal in a vintage font with an appropriately cheeky hula girl...

I even found a "real" hula girl for the dash at the carwash. You will also note the extremely practical vintage fabric throw cushions I made for the bench seats. I probably shouldn't mention that on this particular trip, we packed the cushions but forgot our life jackets...

Here is Suzy, our official mascot...

Ahoy Suzy!

After a stalled motor, several failed attempts and a new starter, we were finally heading up Indian Arm on a gorgeous summer day (don't look, I have bad hair and gum on my flip-flop)...

All was going well...until...the engine cut out halfway up the Arm...(approximately 8 kilometres from the boat launch).  I have no idea why I am talking like such a dork or referring to myself in the third person...

Luckily, we'd bought a trolling motor to have on board as a back-up, which had us moving at a snail's pace (but at least we were moving)...until...the battery died...

But, like all good sailors, I was prepared with supplies...a tin of mints in my, um, purse...

We also forgot water which we discovered to be rather unfortunate when it became apparent that we were going to be rowing with our one oar about 2 kilometres past that small island in the distance...

At one point, we could have flagged down the harbour police, but we were too proud. However, after an hour and a half of rowing, we said f*ck pride and accepted a sea rescue...

Finally, after handshakes and the promise of delivering a good bottle of wine to the dock of our new best friend, we made it back to Cates Park just in time to see this lovely family unloading their slightly larger Boston Whaler that had three, count 'em, three, Merc' 90 engines (not to mention, they were towing it with some sort of semi...)  

Slightly humbled, we took a few days' break from boating and did the obvious, drove to Squamish for grilled-cheese sandwiches...I love this place!

They have 64 kinds!

Granted, it's not exactly haute cuisine, but they even come with cheesies and a peppermint patty...

In the midst of all the great weather, we also decided it was high time to have a "house" concert in our back yard. Only, after 40 record days of sunshine, it decided to rain that day, which threw a rather large wrench and an ugly blue tarp into our plan...

And, because I can't play anything other than the doorbell, I was on wine and cheese duty. I also had so many tea lights lit by dark that I'm surprised nobody caught on fire. That would have been awkward.

The young and talented Saul Chabot opened the evening (great pic below by his mama, Nicol Lischka, who played next in her fantastic duo with partner, Ryan Matches, both of whom I seem to have no photos of).  I must have been lighting more candles...

The boys of Five Star Motel (insert shameless promotion of husband's band here. Greasy Thumb and Don't Try Writing are a couple of my personal favs) came on last with Ian starting on the djembe. However, once he moved to his drum kit, I think the whole neighborhood knew we meant business as the band was fully mic'd...

Still, everyone managed to get back on stage for an encore without the police showing up...

...including Ian, who, as usual, is hidden by front man Paul's guitar arm. 

  As well, in the midst of lots of fun this summer, we also managed to renovate a good portion of our house. When I look back, I realize that I haven't felt as horrible as I have lately for as long as it seems. It's nice to remember that and know that this, too, shall pass.