Halloween is in the Air

All around town there are events celebrating the upcoming Halloween holiday. Yesterday at the Town Centre Mall here in Powell River they had a free Pumpkin Fest.


Here are entries from local businesses.  The Cut is a local hair salon.  See how Mother Nature used flowers to decorate their jack-o-lantern? It's a wonderful pet and gardening store.


And here are hand carved entries from the kids who attended. It was evident, a great time was had by all.

What are your plans for Halloween?  We'll be up the lake.  Hope no ghosts or goblins come to scare us. -- Margy

National Cat Day

October 29, 2012, is National Cat Day.  I can't think of a better time to share the wonderful cat in our lives.  He goes by many names, Norwegian (he looks a bit like a Norwegian Forest Cat), Stick Tail, and recently Pepper and Kitty Cat.

Stick had a close encounter of the hurtful kind with a coyote.  Shortly thereafter, he came to us and we took him in.  The coyote had bitten off the tip of his tail, so we took him to the vet. His tail was promptly shaved and stitched, hence the name Stick Tail.

At the ripe old age of 12, he moved north from our home in Pomona, California, to live full time with my mother in Bellingham.  He didn't like the airplane ride under the seat, but settled into his new surroundings quickly.  Since then, Mom and Stick have been inseparable.

Now he's 18 and still going strong. Well, as long as he gets his cat naps.  Mom calls him Pepper (after a former black cat), or just Kitty Cat. Both are a bit deaf, so a lot of communication occurs through body language.

Stick is even more important now that Mom has lost her mobility. He keeps her company, entertained, and warm when he sleeps on her lap. I don't think he misses his outdoor wandering days one bit. Condo life seems to suit them both just fine.

Do you have a special cat in your life? Let us hear about him or her for this special day. -- Margy

Season's First Rainbow

The last two weeks we've had unsettled weather. One day it was overcast in the morning, cleared to partly sunny with puffy white clouds by noon, followed by a storm with cool temperatures, high winds, hail, and heavy rain.

That was followed by a quick clearing and a beautiful rainbow between us and Goat Island. In Powell River, they say, wait a couple hours, and it will be a whole different season. That day it was really true, a bit of fall, a bit of summer, a bit of winter, and then back to summer. -- Margy

Time for a Little R&R

We're headed up the lake for some well deserved rest and relaxation after a few days in town. We got to see the Kings win a hockey game and two fights, so it wasn't all bad.

I'm sure there'll be lots of stories when we get back in Internet range.

Our cabin on Powell Lake inspired Wayne to write the Coastal BC Stories series. You too can head Up the Lake and Farther Up the Lake through his books.

Do you have a place that inspires you? Maybe it's where you live, or a vacation home or destination. Maybe it's that special place to sneak away to when you want to be alone. Let us know about it and why you like it so much. -- Margy

Mastercraft Gas-Powered Generator

Yesterday you read about our new Yardworks 4-ton electric log splitter. Wayne and John talked about whether or not our Coleman 1850 watt generator would power the unit. They agreed it would be on the ragged edge.  When we hooked it all up, the Coleman just didn't have enough juice to get the splitter's engine to turn over.

The next day, John came back with a rented Honda 2800. That did the trick and we got our stack of logs split.  That same day, John brought a clipping from the Canadian Tire add for a Mastercraft 3300 watt generator. It was on sale for $297.  Wayne went down the lake to town the next day to get the last one in the stock.

It was heavy, but Wayne got it into the truck, down the dock to the boat, and up to the cabin.  I gave a little assistance, and we put it in the back of the Gemini writer's retreat.  That's a handy location to power the splitter on the wood float and anything extra needed on the cabin's back deck. It also adds some extra ballast for the Gemini that no longer has an engine. 

For about $500, we got a wood splitting system that will pay for itself in one season. Not bad, if you ask me.  I'll take Christmas in October any day. -- Margy

Yardworks 4-Ton Electric Log Splitter

This year Christmas came in October. I knew something was up when John called and was very evasive when I answered.  After we arrived in Powell River, I opened the car trunk, and there was a log splitter. Probably some women would think a log splitter is an unusual present, but for me (us actually) it's perfect.

Logs come in various sizes. We like skinny ones that only need to be cut with the chainsaw, but most are 25 centimetres (10-inches) in diameter, so they need splitting. Before, it was a two-person job. I held the ax and Wayne wielded a sledge hammer. It was hard and noisy (ear plug time) work. Now, with the push of a button and a lever, it's automatic. In one hour our new Yardworks 4-Ton Log Splitter from Canadian Tire did the work easily and quietly. Plus, John got it for us on sale for half price, $199!

Now our first batch of wood is spit and stacked in the floating wood shed, ready for winter.  Of course, there's lots more we need to cut and split.

As you know, we live in an off-the-grid float cabin. We have to run our electric splitter using a generator. Come back tomorrow for the rest of the story. -- Margy

A Lull in the Storm

Last weekend we had our first fall rainstorm.  Basically, we've been pretty dry for about two months.  Sunday evening, just at sunset, there were some breaks in the clouds just at the Island Princess was arriving from Texada Island.


It didn't last long, but the colours were spectacular. Even the sea turned a shade of purple.


For a brief moment, it was like waves of fire licking across the sky. -- Margy