Indian summer

While spring and early summer here on Vancouver Island was a wet mess, we are having a glorious Indian summer with bright skies, breezy warm nights and some happy flowers.

Unwelcome neighbour

While watering my tomatoes today, I was met by this creature. I'm not sure exactly what it is... but I think Jeff's policy of "relocation instead of termination" should be revisited.

Bricks

A very busy and wet spring/summer delayed our plans to finish the renovation Jeff and I started last fall on our front steps. Phase two of the renovation began with laying a brick terrace at the bottom of the steps and August finally brought dry enough weather to tackle the task. After looking at the multitude of brick choices available, we went with a boring (therefore, affordable) traditional rectangle. Thankfully, it is such an improvement on the piece of plywood that was a temporary fix for the past six months that we've completely forgotten about the fancier (and much more expensive) alternatives. I think Jeff is doing a bang-up job so far.... and hopefully, it will all be done in time for some much anticipated guests who are arriving in a few weeks.

front terrace.... courtesy of some strong black tea in Jeff's preferred "teacup"

the master mason in action

Day at the Beach

There is a hearty group of Jeff's family members here on Vancouver Island who are always up for a party... or an excuse to have a party.  Between major holidays and family birthdays, we usually find ourselves enjoying each other's great company (and filling our faces) every month or so. We have so much fun and it's so good to have each other.

Since my birthday in early July was lost in the rush for me to get to Saskatchewan, my return home has been quickly followed with plans for a party. We spent a glorious Saturday afternoon at Rathtrevor Beach in Parksville barbequeing salmon and walking on the beach. At low tide, the ocean recedes almost a kilometre at Rathtrevor Beach and it's the perfect place to take a walk or build a sand castle. It's the BEST place to spend a summer afternoon.

birthday cupcakes

homage to my home province

evidence of a romantic walk on the beach

the best ever beach Sherpa

Home

Since I've been away from home pretty much since the long weekend in May, it has been a little odd getting used to being back here again.  That being said... it's really good to be home.

It seems that after a month of rain here, I brought some Saskatchewan sunshine back with me and finally kick-started summer. Let's hope it continues!

Quick update

I haven't posted for a few days as I wanted to focus the last few days of my visit on my parents (Sorry for those of you who have been waiting for updates!). It was really good to take time for conversations and begin processing the enormity of what has happened in the past 30 days.  Now that we are out of the "danger zone", that processing can begin; I think it was helpful to start doing this together before I returned home.

My dad continues to do really well. I have used the phrase "really well" so many times in the past month that it feels a little trite, but it's the best I can come up with! At this point in recovery, "really well" means:

• continuing to build strength and momentum each day
• remaining relatively free of pain
• keeping his incisions infection-free
• managing his physical limitations (with gentle reminders!) 
• keeping an absolutely consistent positive attitude

There is still a lot of healing to do and after a busy day, my dad seems to need a quiet day to catch up on rest. We are assured that his recuperation has been textbook perfect and for this we are just very thankful. In the coming months, my dad will continue to work with a cardiac specialist and undergo tests to explore the full extent of the arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) that was detected after his heart attack.  For me, it is just so reassuring to know that he is in very good hands. While there is lots more healing to be done and the normal risks following heart surgery are still present, it really does seem that the worst is over. 

For those of you who know my parents, you will not be surprised to hear that they released the story of my dad's "cardiac incident" for teaching and review within the local emergency response team. It was their way to thank the volunteer First Responders who saved my dad's life and stabilized him until the paramedics arrived. In releasing this story, the company that makes the portable defibrillator (that restarted my dad's heart) heard about what happened and decided to donate another machine, in my dad's name, to the town of Waldheim where they live. So, the final chapter of this story for our family is that my dad's experience will, we hope, somehow help save the life of someone else. It certainly draws things here to a pretty amazing close. When this occurs, I'll try and post information here.

For now, however, I'll stop with daily updates on my dad and encourage those of you who know him, to email him directly.  During my last week in Saskatchewan, he began checking email again. I know that he and my mom were encouraged beyond words by the notes of support we received and are so thankful.  Feel free to drop him a note- I know he is energized by the contact and I think it's a good way to keep him away from the temptation of driving combine this harvest!

Together, my parents, Lyndon & Jenn, and Jeff and I want to thank you all from the very bottom of our hearts for your love, support, encouragement, love and prayers. I can not begin to articulate what this meant to all of us. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

While I've just arrived home to BC now, I leave this post with a few parting images from the past week in Saskatchewan. 

Fresh rhubarb and saskatoon berry platz

one of the more interesting dragon flies

Farmer Unger inspecting this year's crop

wonderful cloud formations looking of my parent's front porch

day 6 of raspberry picking

our compromise to my dad's insistence that he get to pick, too!

loving fresh lettuce every day

dealing with the fifth major power outage of my visit (thanks to some crazy electrical storms)

prairie sunset

Celebration from afar

Today was a quiet and restful day. We celebrated the removal of the last of my dad's staples (in his leg) and started arranging appointments for next week with cardiac therapists, dieticians, nurses and other care team members.  After receiving a warning from his home care nurse (AKA my aunt!) to stop picking raspberries (something he did yesterday for about 15 minutes), my dad appeared to be a little more compliant today!

The beautiful lilies shown here were a gift last summer from my Uncle H and Aunt N. They are are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this weekend and we send them our congratulations and warmest wishes. We wish we could celebrate with you!

Heat Reprieve

The heat wave finally broke yesterday, in a spectacular thunder and lightening show that blew out the power for more than nine hours (to the entire town where my parent's live). We had our morning coffee on the front porch, enjoying the cool breeze, blooming flowers, butterflies and steady rain.

After being stuck in indoor air conditioning for a few days, my dad was particularly happy to be allowed outside! He continues to do very well, and make slow but steady improvements. This morning, while sorting Saskatoon berries, he was a little off balance and it was a good reminder that while he feels better, he's still not as steady or as strong as he might expect, or like to be. Thankfully, he's not ignoring his limitations, even though they must be frustrating.

During this week's heat wave, the raspberries and Saskatoon berries happily ripened... and not so happily, needed to be picked.  So far, my mom has picked and frozen four ice cream buckets of Saskatoon berries (with more scheduled for tomorrow) along with countless trays of local strawberries. Over the next few days, I think there will be more raspberries to pick (and devour) as well. After a morning of rain yesterday, my parent's garden is a major mud pit, but things should be dried out enough by tomorrow to pick a second round of raspberries. They are so deliciously sweet, it's worth trudging through mud to enjoy them!