Gals & Games

This mother and daughter team has managed a getaway for three consecutive years!

I find that rather impressive considering Joanna now lives in Fort St. John and Patrice lives in Surrey and I'm grateful for reasons to gather.

Because as I get older it's getting harder and harder to muster the energy to do a long drive and to figure out bathrooms and beds.

Our Salt Spring adventure last year was difficult for me on a few fronts so this year, to keep things simple, we (I) chose a spot that is a one hour drive from home.

Summerland for the win!

The location was simply delightful!

We were right beside a harbour...

there was a lovely pond creating a bird sanctuary directly in front of the hotel

with an accessible boardwalk running alongside it!

We loved sitting and watching the mama ducks herding their little ducklings around the pond and the  birdsongs emanating from the area were heavenly.

We could also hear them from the bed in our unit which happened to be overlooking the pond.

This is how that part looked...

The bed was cozy and kind of too soft for me to jump out of so I used my laptop as a somewhat costly transfer board.  Patrice didn't think that was the best idea.

It probably wasn't, but when you gotta go, you gotta go! 

It's not always a convenient time to arrange for extra bodies to help heave me out of bed for a potty break. 

Meanwhile, the  girls slept on a pull out couch in the living room but I didn't hear any complaints from that room. Good thing they are young and resilient!

I brought along my milk-frother and chai tea mix so we enjoyed yummy drinks in bed.

Breakfast for champions was followed by games - of course!!

Joanna and Leanne are the most avid game players I know and I LOVED being able to spend lots of time with them figuring out a new game and enjoying a familiar one.

We were looking forward to a nice supper out on Sunday so we perused a few places that looked quite busy and somehow ended up at a Burger Joint that Patrice had scoped out.

Leanne found it hard to believe that we were ending up eating our one "fancy meal out" at a picnic table overlooking a parking lot, but it made for a good photo op.

And the table was plenty big enough to play Querkle. 

One must be flexible when trying to accommodate everyone's wishes.

The chicken burger was delicious, by the way.

The walk along the lake was stunning as the late evening sun broke through the clouds.

Such a treat to be together eating, relaxing, playing and going for walks.

We took one final selfie on Monday following a delicious breakfast at the hotel before we all went our various ways.

I thoroughly enjoyed the drive home as I gazed out over the lake and mountains.

Spring is such a glorious time with everything springing to life and even the mountains were green...

Soon the hot Okanagan sunshine will leave these same hills yellow and dry.

Every season has it's own beauty.

I'm learning to enjoy the beauty in this slower season of my life.

Elsie and Tante Hilda had kindly shared the "taking care of mom" privileges so I could have some time away but it was a blessing to get home with my heart full of sweet memories.