Beach Vacation - Day 1

A couple of weeks ago, I went on my beach vacation! Originally, this was supposed to be a Mexico beach vacation but... it has morphed into a West Coast beach vacation. Sigh... there better be lots of perks on this trip to make up for a warm beach... although... when you think about it - nothing can make up for a warm beach holiday!

Anyhow... we're off!!

Quite a bit of traffic on the road, but the weather looks good - sunshine even if it is a bit chilly...

Oooh... we're stopping...

We're at Goats on the Roof!!! They have cool stuff inside...

Like... Honeycomb in Milk Chocolate. Eh, Jerry? What do you think???

And the goats were even on the roof!! Hi Goats!!!

Mmm... looks like some good stuff in here... the humans are winning back some points...

But then it got foggy...

Like... seriously foggy. We stopped at the little lake where I had my rubbermaid boat adventure... Can you see the lake? Nope... me neither...

Can barely see the treetops... this could be fun...

It does make for eerie photos though...

We stopped a bit farther along the lake to check out another beach spot... it too was foggy.

But at least there was a patch of sunshine on the far side of the... hey... is that a fisherman??? Ooohhh... fish.. mmmmmm

That sunshine patch does look pretty cool though...

Of course... it would look better if there was a fish jumping in the middle of the picture!

We are driving out to the west coast and... through some mountains and... there was fresh snow!! Brrrr... glad I brought my winter outfit. But at least the fog is burning off...

Cool... I had no idea it was so rugged out here... although that would explain why there are no towns along this stretch of highway!

Hey... it's a lock thingie!! You know... where people put locks on fences or railings... neat.

OK... the weather is seriously getting nice out here! And it's even warming up now that we're on the other side of the mountains... or at least... going down from the mountains. The road is a bit windy and max speed for lots of it is 40 kph (that's 20 mph for my American friends). Lots of curves and... I think I'll just nap for a bit until the worst of it is over.

Oh wow... this is where we're staying!!! A little log cabin with a fireplace (electric... meh)...

And a kitchen for cooking!

With a loft for sleeping...

And a hot tub on the deck and a view of an inlet with water. Beary cool...

But the real test... what's for dinner?

 Oh well... smoked salmon AND candied salmon on fresh cheese bread... I'm in heaven!

Christmas Turkey

... uh huh... and you heat the left-over veggies with some flour... and water...

And some cranberry jelly... hmmm... don't have that... will try plum chutney instead...

And then heat... very good... Thanks Jamie Oliver!!

Oh, hullo!! We are cooking the Christmas turkey! Well... a few days ago we did. It is a "happy" turkey, raised up in the Comox Valley... We are going to make gravy differently this year (not from a packet). So we have the turkey resting on veggies...

And we stuffing ready to go in as well... later.

Anyhow... while the turkey is cooking... here is me in front of the tree!

With a decoration that Buttons the Bear gave me a few years ago... it is beary pretty.

Then the turkey comes out... and it gets basted...

Basting is beary important...

We also have roast potatoes ready to go in later...

While the turkey was cooking... it snowed a little bit!

But that's OK... cause we have a nice, cozy fire inside.

And the turkey is done!!

Now to make the gravy a la Jamie Oliver... mash up the veggies that were under the turkey, add some flour and water and cook for about half an hour...

Then sieve the mess...

Oh wow... that is a beary thick, delicious looking gravy!

While all that was going on... the turkey was resting under foil and tea-towels... it's hard work being a turkey you know.

I think I need a little something...

A Dark Matter drink... mmmm...

The turkey cut super easy... maybe cause it was well rested??

Grampa gave his thumbs-up to this turkey... it tasted like something!

It sure looks good...

Oh... I forgot... drool alert! Sorry... this blog post is being cut off!

Merry Christmas!!

You know how... on Christmas morning... your eyes just "bing!" open...

That was me!!

Oooh... lights... and presents!!!

And a gift for me!! (Obviously)

I wonder what it could be??

Oh wow... hold that thought... and don't look!!

Ta-dahhhhh!!!! It's my new winter outfit!! I was hoping I'd get a new outfit this year...

It has wool pants and a wool smoking jacket... with a cute plaid shirt and green tie. A perfect lounging outfit for Sherlock Sandy!