Friday, April 15th - Happy Easter everone (part 1)

Well the last couple of weeks have certainly been a bit of a whirlwind.

I had the pleasure of spending a weekend on PEI. I flew out to help with the Irish Stew dinner. It was so very nice to catch up with so many people I hadn't seen since leaving over 2 years ago. Many asked if I was back or planning to move back but I assured them it was a temporary visit. 

I needn't have worried about getting a seat on the plane. I took this picture right before we took off! All these rows and I was still at the back of the bus!

Brenda picked me up at the airport on Friday morning (April 1st) and we went straight out to do some shopping for the event. When that was done we met Helena in town at the Merchantman for some lunch. It was a cool and drizzly day but that didn't dampen our spirits. It was really nice to sit down over a beer and some good food to catch up.

On our way out to Fort Augustus we stopped at No Frills and picked up the remaing items on the shopping list. (Just a few things!) Then the liquor store and Sobey's where I was able to say hi to a couple of old co-workers.  On our way home we stopped at the Rec Centre and dropped everything off in preperation for Saturday's work day.

We still had some time before we had to go out so I popped over to see my friend Margie. A lot has happened in her life since I last saw her and it was good to catch up, after a good cry of course. Then it was a shared dinner with her and a chance to learn what the future holds for her. I suggested she come out on Sunday and she agreed it would be a good idea. 

I was fortunate that Friday was also the start up of Capture the Queen at the Rec Centre. No one knew that I was coming so there were just a few surprised faces when I walked in. It was lovely to see everyone.

Me and Anna

Many hands make light work and we had many hands. So many in fact that some where there waiting for us when we arrived on Saturday morning, with peelers and paring knives in hand.

It took a few minutes to get everybody organized but once that was done, we flew through the prep. 

Just like old times!

By lunch most was done so we headed back to the VanGaals for lunch and left the beef, ready to simmer after we returned.

Everyone else was gone when we returned so we got stuff on the stove, made some tea, and then just sat back and relaxed. It was just like old times. Brenda has been there for me so many times, and I was really happy to be able to return the favour.

Bernie had some guests in the shop so Brenda and I called up Helena to join us for supper. We had her delicious fish and reluctantly shared what was left with the guys in the shop. It was nice to see Paul and Richard, who were quite surprised to see me walk through the door!

It had been a long day and Brenda had gone up for a brief nap while I visited with Meghan out in the big building where her tiny home is still being constructed. Winter hasn't cooperated in terms of being able to do much but now that Spring is here it should be getting closer to completion.

I look forward to seeing it when it's all complete and out in the woods. 

Sunday morning was another early one, although not quite as early as the day before had been.

I had brought them a new teapot from Amsterdam to replace their old one they had gotten years ago when they visited the Netherlands. Breakfast was tea, blueberry pancakes with local blueberries and maple syrup produced right there on their property from their very own trees. Doesn't get much more local than that.

By mid morning it was time to head over to the Rec Centre and get started. There were people busy setting up tables, musicians were busy getting set up and tuned up and the kitchen was in full swing.

By most accounts the day was a success. There was lots of positive feedback and I'm assuming some money was made, as it was a fundraiser after all. 

When everything was cleaned up, it was back to the VanGaals where we had an early night. My flight was leaving at 5:00 which meant I had to be there by 3:00 (am) so leaving the house by 2:30. Lucky for me Bernie doesn't sleep well and actually I didn't either. You know what it's like when you have to get before the crack of dawn and you're afraid you might sleep in. But that wasn't the case and Bernie had me there in really good time. I didn't get on the flight to Toronto but I did make it on to the Montreal flight, that left an hour later. Good thing I did. Brenda sent me a picture from her window mid morning, where there was a full on blizzard happening. Got out just in time.