Pumpkins!

I had an absolute blast this weekend. Yesterday, I had people over for a night of pumpkin carving.... at my parents' house. *L* So why there? My dad really, really, really gets into Hallowe'en. His yard is decorated to the nth degree. The last few years my sister has carved several pumpkins herself to add to his collection and she didn't want to do it alone. I thought it would be great to make an evening of it. I asked my parents if they would mind if I invited some people over for dinner (hamburgers on the BBQ, made by Dad) and pumpkin carving. They said it was fine. I sent out a few emails, invited some cousins and some friends, told them to bring their own pumpkin if they wanted to carve one and my dad would gladly adopt it if it needed a home. I honestly did not think everyone would say yes. Most people seem to roll their eyes when I mention pumpkin carving, but this year people got into it. Although apparently the chance to have one of "Uncle Ron's" burgers was a huge draw. 15 people! I had tons of fun. Before people came, we covered the floor with tarps just in case, put up two long tables and every chair in the house. We had burgers first (soooo yummy) and then cleared off the tables for the pumpkins! Some people used stencils, some people went classic and Rod went highly creative. He made one pumpkin look like two hands clinging to the bars of a jail cell and he peeled a second pumpkin to make this glowing orb/disco ball thingie. Very odd. I carved three (my dad bought 7 pumpkins and I bought 2, so there were lots as most people also brought one or two), two classics and one using a stencil of a skull. I think 17 pumpkins got carved and my dad was left with almost all of them! I can't wait to see how he's added them to his display. And yes, there are pictures. You know where.

Today was just a quiet day of running errands, going to the gym, sewing. The usual. I'm looking forward to this week - Hallowe'en and my birthday!! Really, it's my favourite week of the year. I get to have ice cream cake!

Oh yes - earlier this week, Fuzzy's friends came visiting him again. My poor little indoor kitty gets taunted by these two outdoor kitties who just want him to come play. Well, one does anyway. I think the white fluffy one is spoiling for a fight. Anyway, I got a great pic of one of the visits!

Bowen

I had an absolutely fabulous day. I met up with my family, took a ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Bowen Island and spent the day outdoors. Amazing weather! It was the perfect fall day - the sun was shining, there was very little wind, and it got warm enough that I didn't even need a coat for most of the day (I was wearing a light sweater). We spent about three hours walking along the trails on the island, from the ferry dock up Alder Grove Trail to Killarney Lake Loop and coming back through the Meadow Trail. We had our brown bag lunches at the end of Killarney Lake, about our halfway point. I'm guessing about 8km, but I'm not too sure. We ended our hike with the ritual ice cream before we boarded the ferry back to the mainland. I took some really great pictures I think, as usual posted on my website . There is this really cool pic of a dragonfly, who was too wet to fly away while I took his photo.

I went back with my parents to their house and helped my dad with his Hallowe'en decorations for a while before supper. To say my dad gets into the Hallowe'en thing would be an incredible understatement. I haven't seen it in person for years obviously, so it was cool to help him. Can't wait until it's done and I can check it out. I wish I wasn't working that night, it would be a lot of fun to hand out candy.

Saturday was a pretty slow day for me, but nice anyway. I spent the day cleaning and chatting on the phone. Got to talk to both Erin and Lori and it was very very nice to catch up. I want to congratulate Erin again for finishing her half marathon earlier this month, with the fantastic time of 2:09:07. Just in case I haven't made it clear, I'm very impressed. 21 km. Eep. I also want to share the exciting news that Baby M has added both crayon and table to his vocab! It sucks not getting to see him grow, but I have to admit that this Vancouver thing is working out for me quite well.

Trying to think if anything else happened this week that I can share - sewing? Did some. Work? Yep, I went. Have stories, can't tell them as usual. Gym? Still there.... Going to try to crank up my work outs this week and I plan to get a personal trainer. My motivation has been lacking and I think I'm going to need someone kicking my ass through the Christmas season.

Delayed post

Oops, forgot to post last night. I was very very sleepy if that will serve as an excuse.

I had a great week at work as it was only 3 days long. My favourite kind of work week! I have now officially finished all my training. Very cool.

I also had a really nice weekend. Spent a relaxing Friday pretty much doing nothing. Had a massage, sewed a lot. Saturday, I had lunch with my sister, my cousins and Shivauna at a really nice sushi restaurant. We ordered a bunch of different rolls - a yam roll (very very tasty), a caterpillar roll (based on appearance, not contents - it has layers of avocado across the top), a spider roll (again on appearance - it has crab legs sticking out of each end, very creepy but tasty), california roll, and something else that I can no longer remember. Later that day, Shivauna and I went up to a party in Squamish at her friend's house. I had a great time, met some new people, went hot tubbing. We stayed the night (we had brought sleeping bags), and drove home in the morning. Even with the low clouds and rain, the view up there is just amazing. Lots of construction taking place on that road, but it has improved since the last time I remember going up there. Sunday, I had lunch with Rod and Fancy at a restaurant near their place.

Almost finished the first of my Christmas projects. This one is for me, so I don't know if it even counts. I have bought so much fabric lately. I need to ban myself from fabric stores again.

Andrea gave me some books to lend to Rod - Belgarath and Polgara. I decided to read them first *L*. I read the Belgariad and the Mallorean (I think I got those right), but never had any urge to read any more. But I have a very low TBR pile right now, and these just fell into my hands.

Ack, forgot to put my laundry in the dryer.

food is tasty

Should have typed this earlier, I'm too tired now. I love long weekends. I don't have to go to work tomorrow!

And... it's Turkey Weekend. On Saturday, I had people over to my house for dinner. My sister came over early and we cooked the meal together. 5.85 kg turkey, bread stuffing with onions, celery and carrots, yams in a brown sugar and orange juice glaze, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, buns and salad. For dessert, we made apple tarts in phyllo pastry. Shivauna also made a great peach and blueberry cobbler. A nice basic dinner for eight :)

Sunday night, I had a big family dinner at my grandmother's with even more dishes. There was a pureed yam and apple side dish and a pineapple fluff dessert that I really need to get the recipes for. Yummy.

I could type about sewing and going to the gym, but now all I can think about is food.

Kudos go out to Erin today. I haven't talked to her yet so I don't know how it went, but today was the Victoria half-marathon. I'm sure she did great, but in any event, congrats for being ambitious enough to even contemplate it!

Wow, October First already.....

I had a pretty nice weekend. Friday, I had a little adventure. I drove to Langley. Ok, so it's just the next community over but a big deal for me as I hate to drive places I haven't been. I needed to hit fabricland and it was the closest one (I think....) I had to turn LEFT across Hwy 10. *whines* People are scary. Construction zones are horrifying. I like being a passenger better, but I love being able to go when I want to go. I spent the rest of the day sewing and figured out how to heat my apartment this winter. Using the iron and the halogen lamp in my sewing room makes that room darn hot. Hothothot. I worked on pillows for my couch/day bed thingie. I only had enough scraps from the curtains (which I finished earlier this week) to make one 18" pillow. I also made 2 22" pillows and another 18" one, using the same fabric as the old 16" cushions I have. I need so many pillows to make the day bed narrower so I can actually lean against the cushions and have my feet on the floor.

Saturday, I met up with friends and went to the Telus World of Science. We saw an Imax movie on Greece and went to the Body Worlds 3 exhibit. If you haven't heard of it, it's an "stunning exhibit featuring almost 200 authentic human specimens preserved using the extraordinary method of Plastination". Donated human bodies. I know it sounds really morbid, but I found it hard to remember that they were real and not just incredibly detailed models. Although I found it really interesting, I only spent an hour looking at the exhibit. It was really crowded and I didn't find that part enjoyable. I think I would have spent more time if I had gone on a Wednesday instead of a Saturday. I also thought it was over priced. If it had just been the regular Science World price, I would have been fine, but it was an extra 10 bucks for the special exhibit.

Saturday night, Rod and I went to a pre-season hockey game at GM Place, Canucks versus the Oilers. It was so strange to be cheering for the away team! Nice game, with the Oilers taking it in overtime. Today was a quiet day. I had tea at my grandma's, went to the gym, and finished the last of my couch pillows. Onto the next project! Well, tomorrow anyway....