July 7, 2015. Western Head, N.S. Happy Birthday Mary.

After the Mersey Band Concert tonight, our friends of The Gull Bay Group gathered for dinner at Lanes, but Ken and I could not join them as we had16 for dinner at our own home.   I mentioned at dinner that perhaps we could stop by the restaurant just to give Mary birthday greetings.  With the girls chiming in their ideas, we finally decided that the girls would each make a card for Mary, with one from the men and then from each lady individually.  And we decided for all the girls and ladies would  go into the restaurant and sing Happy Birthday to Mary,  standing in a circle around their table, so that is what we did.

All in a row, we 13 walked  across the crowded restaurant and made a circle around their table.  The five of them looked astonished.    Without a word, we sang lustily, Happy Birthday Dear Mary, then each presented their card to Mary and left.   Everyone enjoyed our stunt.  The girls did a great job with their cards and everyone at the birthday table were surprised.  I hope they were also pleased.   The distaff side of the Dickie family enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

July 6, 2015. Western Head, N.S. A True Story.

Yesterday morning, Suzanne and Gabe decided to go for a walk.   They discussed taking a long walk or a short walk and settled on a long walk.  In their minds, the long walk would take them about an hour.  So off they went, across the causeway and up the big hill, intending to walk around the loop, the one we drive every day and does not seem far in the car.   The problem with the loop is that there are no short cuts to return home a shorter way.  Once you are committed and you get half way around, you are committed to go the whole way around.

We have been kidding them ever since.  These two sensible ladies started out for this long walk with no cell phones and no water.   And Gabe returned home bleeding from four blisters on her feet.  She wore shoes perfect for a short walk but not for a three hour walk.

Twice during their walk they were passed by two men on bicycles, who commented to them that they were walking a long way.  The men were unknown to them but last night at our dinner party, two men arrived who looked familiar.   Our friends who joined us at dinner were the same men who spoke to them in the morning.   They did point out that anyone living around the loop would have been happy to have driven them back home.  Nova Scotians are always willing to help.   But these two ladies were determined to finish what they started.  This is a true story.

July 5, 2015. Western Head, N.S. A Beehive of Activity.

Our family was tired of traveling so today everyone stayed  home and kept busy.  Our home was a center of activity.   The girls checked all the lights and replaced any bulbs that had burned out.  Ken asked them to do it.  Usually, Mal completes that task but he is not coming this summer so the girls have completed that job.

 Yesterday, David ordered a cord of wood delivered to the house.  He loves to make big fires.  This morning the wood was delivered so with David and Randy down by the fire pit, the wood was transported from beside the house to down by the shore, using the small trailer behind the lawn mower. Randy taught the girls to stack wood properly so with Sarah, Abigail and Jessica loading the trailer and driving it down by the water, and Samantha, Allison and Rachel doing the stacking, the wood was successfully transported to the proper place.  Now we look like we have a regular  Canadian wood pile.

After breakfast, Suzanne and Gabe went for a walk.  I was ready to send for a search mission because after two hours they were not home.  Eventually, they walked up the path, after walking all around the loop, a distance of over 8 miles.  Goodness.

All afternoon, David and the girls flew kites.  The wind was not perfect but they had great success.  And 19 for dinner again made for a jolly time.  Now all the young ones are again down by the fire.  The weather today was almost hot..   It was a perfect day of activity here by the shore.

July 4, 2015. Western Head, N.S. A Fire by the Shore.

When I look out my bedroom window I see a fire down by the shore.  David made the fire  this afternoon.   Right now our dinner guests have gone.  It is after all after 10:00 which for me is late.    The fire illuminates the shapes and I can hear the individual voices.   Gabe and Randy are by the fire as are David and Suzanne along with the six girls, who are delighted to be together.  They don't get to see each other very often so they are excited.   When you see a fire by the shore you know that David is here.  It is a great spot for a fire.

Tonight was the first night of our caterer and both David and I were pleased.  The food was excellent and nicely served.  The girls helped too to clear the table and serve the dishes.   We both think they will do well.   Walt and Mary came for dinner to welcome our family, along with Wendy and Clausen and Brian and Cathy, a couple unknown to David and Suzanne.  Our evening was lively and fun.  Today we have gathered here in Nova Scotia.  We have already begun to enjoy our selves.

July 3, 2015. Western Head, N.S. Forgetting.

I searched everywhere.   After looking everyplace on the main floor, I was forced to go back up the stairs to our bedroom.  Surely my glasses were there.  But I could not find them.   My glasses are really only necessary when I drive and as I was just about to drive to the bank in town I needed my glasses, but they were no place to be found.    For years I wore no glasses as I had perfect vision after my surgery but several weeks ago my vision deteriorated, probably due to the chemotherapy, so now I must wear glasses.   I take them off for reading and if the print is small, I use reading glasses.  I have gotten in the habit of taking my glasses off and setting them on the adjacent table.  Of course, I forget where I leave them.

Yesterday, I was forced to drive into town without my glasses.   As I tried to recall when I last wore them, I was fearful that I had left them at the cottage, which would have meant another drive.    And I was irritated.  I hate forgetting where I left my glasses.  Usually I can recall immediately where I was last reading, so left my glasses beside that chair.  But not yesterday.   Last evening, when writing my wee web log, my glasses appeared on the desk at the back where there is no light.  The night before, I did what I just did tonight, which was to remove my glasses.  Unfortunately, I moved them to the back of the desk.  Tonight I placed my glasses on a sheet of paper which makes them easy for me to spot.  I really do hate forgetting my glasses.  Makes me feel very old!!

July 2, 2015. Western Head, N.S. Summer Systems.

Everything is set for the summer.   Our friends are here now so we are all in our places with sun shining faces.  This afternoon Wendy and Clausen walked over for a few minutes just to say hello, coming on the path from our house to theirs.  And this morning, Gill took me to the hospital to have blood drawn.  There is something very nice about walking over to your good friends, something we have lost in the modern world.

And my medical system seems to be working too.  This morning I registered at the local hospital and had blood drawn.  Then I went to the business office to pay for the service.   The person in charge of the business office is the wife of our shuttle driver.   The lab will fax the results of my blood work to my Oncologist in Texas.   On Monday, I have an appointment with a local GP who has agreed to look after me if I get ill with an infection, so I should be well looked after here in Nova Scotia.  I must say that I was not looking forward to driving to Halifax to see the Oncologists.  Amazing how things work out, one way or another.

Starting Saturday when David and Suzanne and the girls arrive, we will have friends or relatives with us until just before we leave for Texas in September, so I will have help at home. Mary McD. has been doing the grocery shopping for me and Gill has stopped in each day to help.   There is always something I can not do by myself, such as carry the laundry basket up and down stairs.  Now we are set for the summer.  And we will just enjoy our friends and the view!!

July 1, 2015. Western Head, N.S. The River Bend.

Every day,  Mr. Gaskell, who drives us from the airport, picks up 8 people at the workshop in Milton and drops them off at The River Bend Grocery and Cafe, where they work until 3:00 when they return.  These folks are challenged and come to the workshop each day from their homes.  At the center, tasks are assigned, depending on abilities.   Years ago, we had our chairs repaired.  An older man was a skilled carpenter and when he retired he worked at the workshop, teaching skills.  Ken had tried to fix the chairs twice, but after the workshop folks worked on them they have never come apart again.  

Four years ago, an old run down little grocery store came up for sale in Mill Village.  Someone had the brilliant idea to buy the store and have it as a project for the folks who come each day to the shelter.  So they did.   At first, the task was to fix it up and run it as a little store, so the shelter folks would learn more skills.  Next, someone suggested they hold brunch once a month, and they did, all the while teaching the folks from the shelter the specific tasks that fits their abilities.  One thing turned into another.  Now the River Bend serves lunch every day and brunch every Sunday.  The workers from the shelter work 2 or 3 days each week.  They get paid and the River Bend contributes to the cash flow of the shelter.   Now they are catering for us at our home.

On the way home from the airport, the River Bend prepared a box lunch for us.  Our driver was chatting with one of the workers, who was obviously from the shelter.  She was busy filling candy boxes and bringing them from the back room.  She was asked if she liked her job.  She said,"Oh yes.  I love my job and I love The River Bend.  I have learned so much working here".  It is quite a remarkable endeavor  and my hats are off to the good folks who have  patience and  perseverance .  Dealing with challenging individuals is not an easy task.