Do you e-book?

This year I decided I would track all the books I have read and enjoyed.  You'll see the list to the right.  I'm quite impressed with myself.   Since this is my first year of tracking, I keep forgetting to write down the books as I finish them, but I think I got most of them.

What I haven't captured are all the books I started, and hated.  I refuse to waste time on a book I don't like.  But I know people who once they open a book insist on reading it to the end, even if they are not enjoying it. Life is too short.  It's like eating bad food - no good will come of it.

  

There have been books that I've given a second, and even third chance.  The book Wicked, for instance, by Gregory Maguire.  What a great book.  But the first and second time I tried to read it - nada. Just couldn't get into it.  Third time's a charm, and I couldn't read it fast enough.  Then I read the sequel in 2 days (Son of a Witch, if you are wondering).  I understand book 3 is out there, just haven't got to it yet. 

Last year, I contemplated getting an e-reader.  But it's just not me.  I just love going to the library and browsing the stacks, bringing home a pile of new titles.  I can lose hours in the library.  I think curling up with a good e-reader is just not the same.  And you know when you are reading in bed, and you start to fall asleep, and the book whacks you in the face - just not the same with an e-reader.  

I think one of my favourite books is A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry.  I read it almost 12 years ago, and I still can see the characters clearly, like I just visited with them yesterday.

I'm taking a poll - do you

a) insist on finishing every book you start (and if so, why?)

or 

b) only read what you enjoy and shut the cover on the ones you hate?

Happy page turning!

It's been a busy week....

This was my commute on Monday morning.  A lovely 40 minute ferry ride to Victoria.  It was not without bumps.  The wind was starting it's attack on south west BC. 

I watched the school boat behind us - the waves were about 1 metre high.  I would not be a happy kid on that boat.  There are  snow days when you stay home because of snow - could there be a wave day?

So while I was off on the high seas, S was stranded on the island.  The weather was too rough for the Queen of Nanaimo to leave port on Salt Spring.  So he spent the day waiting to see if the ferry would leave that evening.  I won't keep you in suspense - it did.   For those of you who have been to our beach, here's what it looked like on Monday.  I've never seen the tide so high! The beach was no more.

Bennett Bay Nov 21

Meanwhile, back in Victoria, I was reclining in luxury at the Laurel Point Inn.  It's a lovely hotel on the waterfront.  The bathroom size never ceases to amaze me.  The view is not bad either.  

Erickson Wing room before I messed it up

BIG Bathroom (11 x 13ft - I measured)

Last but not least, I guess the Christmas season has really started.  The Laurel Point was hosting a gingerbread house contest as I arrived.  Here are some of the amazing entries. 

I said it's been a busy week - but it's only WEDNESDAY!  Just so much going on.  I'm off to celebrate American Thanksgiving with some of my quilting peeps on Friday.  Border line ups be damned.  Target and their $5 Christmas t-shirts are calling.  I think this is our 6th annual get-away.  We're lucky to have a cabin by the lake to stay in, just north of Burlington.  Pictures and stories to come. 


Enjoy the rest of the week.  Wear weighted boots if you don't want to fly away.

Project #1065 (and 66)

My favourite question (NOT) is:  Have you finished your house? 

We started building this house in November 2005.  With my amazing math skills, that would make it 6 years since we started.  I expected we would be completed at the end of 2010, but good behaviour (or the dastardly cancer if you like) put that plan aside.

So, here we sit at 6 years, about 98% complete.  It's probably less, but that's what I like to tell people.  Completion is in the eye of the householder. 

Truthfully, it's mostly finishing yet to be done.  Oh, that wasn't truthful at all, the bathrooms aren't really 'finishing' are they?   Anyhow, last weekend S did some might fine 'finishing' by closing in the electric panel housed in the pantry.  Great job job I'd say.   Take a look:

Doors closed (handles not on yet)

Hidden panel

Now, after I open my wood floor laying business, I'm going to open a tiling business (again, NOT).  Bathroom tiling moves very slow, and while I enjoy it, it's kinda messy.  Plus, I can't mix too much mortar, as it will harden before I finish.  I manage to mix about enough for one row at a time.  This is the progress of about a month (remember, we're talking weekends here): 

tiling in progress

Close up

 
What is missing from the tiling industry is a spatula.  I have no idea how you get the mortar out of the bucket with that stupid flat metal thing, yes, the trowel.  So I bought me a fancy kitchen spatula.  Things will move more quickly now.  Only took me a month to figure that out.  Did I mention I'm also grouting the tile at the town house....by finger, no trowel.  Long story. 





Project 1067 coming soon....  















Enjoy your weekend.   



p.s. isn't it the most amazing thing when the sun shines on the snow and the day is ever brighter because of it?  Hate snow, but love the light. 

Tofino

We are so lucky to have a place to stay in Tofino.  Right on Chesterman Beach, just down from the Wickaninish Inn.  Miles and MILES of beach.  Monkey thinks he owns the beach - other dogs beware.  He gets decked out in his little wet suit, and off he goes.  This year, he learned to body surf.   However, in October, the ocean is a bit cold, and small schnauzers start to shiver after about 10 minutes in the surf.  

However, they are happy (?) to pose for some photos when dry...... (clearly, I'm lucky I have a day job to fall back on, photography was not my first calling). 

They are both employing their driftwood cloaking device.  Just try to find the grey schnauzers in the drift wood or sand.  Not easy.

Oh, and did I mention the ball thrower?  Just one glimpse of that stupid piece of blue plastic and the barking begins.  From the door to the beach, BARK BARK BARK BARK. How is it possible to be so little and have such a loud shrill bark?
 

There are so many reasons to I like going to Tofino apart from the beach, and the peace and quiet.  Two others high on my list are Goats on the Roof in Coombs (yes, there are goats, and yes, they are on the roof... but I have never seen them there). But they have great shopping, goats or not.

The other thing I love is the tradition of putting Hallowe'en pumpkins in the forest at Cathedral Grove.  What I discovered is that it doesn't happen until after Hallowe'en has passed.  Then, everyone from Port Alberni, I guess, takes their carved pumpkin and displays it along the road.  Usually, we go to Tofino late in November, and the pumpkins are mostly mush.  This year, we caught them on November 2nd, in all their glory: 

Ah, Tofino.  Thanks to Rim Cottage for another wonderful weekend.