Hallowe'en At The Chapins! Daryl's favourite season is Hallowe'en, and since he is far from home, he felt the urge to decorate someone else's house. The victim...my sister and the family. There are bodies rising from the dead, bats that attack you at the front door, webs to entangle you...all for the sake of candy. What a great day!

Daryl's New Car!!

Lucky guy! He must look like such a stud out there in his shiny new Audi!

I am happy to report that after hours of intense detective work with an outstanding performance by Teresa we found the missing garbage can. I'm going to spray-paint it pink so that it doesn't wind up in the neighbours garage again!
A gorgeous, sunny weekend means walking in the back 40 with the chow while trying to avoid stepping in bear droppings!
I watched my first curling match yesterday as the Strauss Crown of Curling is being held at the Kamloops Curlign Club, with our neighbour Brian participating. I'm thinking that I might take some lessons and learn to curl...without wiping out on the ice and cracking my head open again!
Daryl was at my sister's place yesterday helping my nephews decorate for Hallowe'en. It is Daryl's favourite holiday, and I'm so glad that he has somewhere he can share his talents! I'll post some photos when Nadia sends me some. Daryl also has his new car, and is one happy camper!

MISSING!!

Someone stole my garbage can. Here in the Loops, we had to purchase or rent city approved garbage bins that are easier for the city to collect and empty. We did our duty, we are good tax-paying citizens, and low and behold, someone STOLE OUR GARBAGE CAN!

If anyone has seen a stray bin, please let me know, otherwise next week, I'm stealing the neighbours!

No wonder we love Australia!

Jasper? Is that YOU?

Upsidedown Chow

We don't know why he does this, but daily Fletcher strikes this pose. We call it "UPSIDEDOWN CHOW". Never a dull moment.

We had a busy weekend with a surprise last-minute visit from my parents. It was great to have the unexpected company as I was preparing for my first weekend alone in the house. I actually hand a bunch of plans with friends which were all postponed, but I've got nothing but time!
I have another avid reader of the blog. Daryl keeps hounding me to keep the updates and photos coming, as it is the only way he can see the house, garden, chow and me from Hog-town. So, with his constant persuasion, I hope to keep photos and writings regular.

I would like to introduce you all to Ferdinand, the hot pepper plant. Daryl planted these seeds in June, and low and behold, they all died in the garden when Fletcher decided to sit on them. So, round two were sewn indoors, in a pot, with lots of fertilizer. Unfortunately, Daryl had to leave when his youngin's were but wee blades, and we didn't know which were peppers and which were weeds. I am reluctant to pull any of the growths...I'll leave that task to Daryl. Chow sits on guard for thee. We've had a visit from our healthy black bear for the past few weeks and chow does not like that one bit!

Some photos of the chow...and how he is dealing with the "missing". We don't say Daryl's name...makes Chow sad :( Chow in the garden...just looking. He fell asleep on the grass, all curled up with leaves falling on him. It was so pathetic!
You would think this would be stinky! Between my shoes and Daryl's sandals...that is one happy chow!

I have ordered a land line, to help save the cell phone bill. I will be sending out the number via e-mail, but if I forget someone, please drop me a note and I'll be sure to send it on. Have a wonderful day!

Well, I'm back in the Loops. I had no idea that fall had set in so hard! It was freezing in the house when I came home! Thank God I know how to build a fire! Fletcher wouldn't eat his supper, or his breakfast this morning, I think he misses his dad...but he did eat a cookie, so maybe he's faking. With him, who knows!
I have a meeting at 3pm today with a prospective employer, so fingers crossed, I'll be busy soon.
The house is so quite, and big. I haven't been alone like this in so long...I miss Daryl :(

Today, I leave Toronto and head back to Vancouver, then up to the Loops. I'm so confused, my head is spinning, I don't know which way I'm going. Daryl is all set up in his new place, and the people are so nice, they promised that they would take good care of him, and I do believe them! He's got a rental car while he finds one to buy, somthing that he will probably just run to the ground, there are so many cheep cars out here we didn't know where to start! My only constraint was that he could not purchase a Ferrari!
I'm glad that Fletcher is waiting for me in Vancouver, because I just could not imagine going into an empty house. I guess the chow will have to put up with my snuggles as I try to stay warm at night! Poor dog!
Nadia has invited Daryl up to the new cottage for Thanksgiving, and I'm glad that he'll be with family, even though it is my crazy family! He'll be given lots of left-overs, which is great.
I have another call back with a prospective employer when I return to the Loops on Tuesday, so that will be good. I need to find something to keep me busy!
Thanks everyone for your notes and calls with all the support! It means so much to me, knowing that you understand what I'm feeling and going through. It has to be so much harder for Daryl, a new city, new place to live, new friends...at least I have the house, and the Chow.

Greetings from Hogtown

So much for being diligent with the updates! Daryl and I are in Toronto getting him settled with his new job. What? Yes, sad but true...he will be staying in the east while I return to the west this Thanksgiving weekend and back to the Loops...at least I will have the Chow. The position will be great for Daryl who needed a confidence booster after all that transpired with PCL, and the money was just too good to pass up. With our crazy lifestyle of the past few years, thebanks will be very pleased with this! We found a nice little furnished apartment in a house in a great Italian community, so hopefully the Nona will adopt and feed my poor pumpkin! I can't think about leaving and coming home to the big house, alone. Life isn't suppose to be like this. My heart is breaking a little more every day.
Hopefully, the job prospects will come through for me as well, so that my mind will be occupied with new adventures out west. We know that life in the future will happen in the Loops, and we just love our home too much to leave it, so we will rough through this next while and be stronger for it. Does it sound convincing? I'm trying hard!
While in Toronto it's been great visiting with my sister and nephews and I hope to catch up with some old friends too. At least I know Daryl will have family around as well, if he needs a home cooked meal every once in a while!