Autumn maintenance. Blew the pine needles out of the eavestrough. Replaced the wood steps that lasted 10 years with stone. Moved some dirt and rocks with Bob. Drained the irrigation and stored the summer stuff. Lots of time in the garden.

Freezer died after 10 years so we had to replace it. Replaced the tires on the bike (love the new Battlax tires) and finally installed an overhead light that we like in the bedroom.

On the fun side, we had several dinners with friends, helped the neighbor pick his grapes (bountiful harvest this year) and I had a delightful overnight bike camping trip to the Kootenays in perfect weather. We also celebrated Mizuho’s Bday at Azhadi Winery, a new and very impressive winery owned by a Persian family.

Drove to Calgary, left car and flew to Halifax the next day (after 2 cancelled flights during the WJ strike, rerouting thru Winnipeg and bags delayed two days). Many excellent oysters (2 dozen two days in a row), lobsters, and scallops, coupled with 2 weeks of driving around NS seeing the sights made for a very nice holiday.

Back to Calgary for a few days to see Studio Rogers (highly recommend) and the library then drove to Edmonton for the Fringe Festival in Old Strathcona and saw 11 shows and the West Edmonton Mall. Apart from the mosquitos, good time. Drove to Radium Hot Springs for hiking and hot spring bathing before heading home.

While away, our two sister house sitters took care of the house and Taisho, and fires raged on the other side of the lake and displaced some 10,000 people, all of whom are now back home (except for those whose houses burned). Came home to several mutant cucumbers and lots of eggplants, shishito, carrots and tomatoes.