FEBRUARY MUSEINGS

Today is a great day!  The weather is still mild, especially as we look East and see all the horrible weather there.  I hate to say it because it sounds like boasting , but I'm really glad I'm here!!

 The park is coming together as Phase 2 has units arriving and being set up.  It is with great interest we all gather to see what is happening there!  Many have loved the newest outline of an off leash dog area...and we've all used what is currently available!  My dog, Skipper, and Marjean's dog, Charlie, have a great time racing all over the place, though I have to put mine in a bath as soon as he gets home....sand and grit come into the house via dirty paws!!

 The new outlines of the Park are including a grassy area and a woodsy area on the other side of the last pond.  It is a very nice design and I look foreward to wandering around when the paths have a little more substance...eg:  gravel! By the way, for anyone who asked me that is  having trouble training their dog to walk closely to them ( especially when there are so many distractions!), the 2 pet stores in Duncan are stocking the head leash that is a wonderful alternative to hauling on choke chains or neck collars.  They pull the HEAD instead of the neck to help your pet to follow YOU and not pull YOU where you'd rather not go!  It is recommended by dog trainers and the cost is about   $25.00. They come in all sizes.  I've seen them and if my dog had a muzzle long enough I would have used them for training long ago.  He is now used to a harness and usually obeys...but it is harmful to the throat of a dog to haul on their necks especially  if they are strong.






 3 new  models have arrived at the far end of the Phase 2.  The setup is quick and looks nice.  Linda ( Cleft) has her hands full this year, and you couldn't ask for a better planner than she is. Whenever you see her, remember to encourage her.  It is hard work and looks so pretty when done!

The 2 new units in the first area are almost beautiful!  takes a bit of time, but it is nice to see the work being finished off.

The men watch  

the marvellous little "mover"

"sa cinch!" says Paulie

Look at that, it's in!!

 On February 6th at 7:00 p.m. the ladies of the park are invited to attend an   EPICURE TASTING PARTY,    held by Lynn .  She will present products that she uses in her cooking which have natural ingredients and are great for using in sauces and dips and daily in cooking in general.  She will have samples to try out.  These blends of herbs and spices are made right here on Vancouver Island and have no preservatives or "things you can't pronounce" !  Please come and make this a success for Lynn.  Another great opportunity to socialize with your newer neighbors.
Lynn writes that there  will be a draw for "honorary" host.  This person will get the host Freebies....another great reason to attend.



Anyone who has paid GST on their site rental since 2012 ( and we are still paying it...about $20.00 a month) and were denied a rebate is supposed to file a Notice of Objection first with the CRA.  I have the address if you are interested in doing so.  This can include anyone living at the Park on a more-than-a-month basis.You cannot just download another application if you were already denied.  You MUST file a Notice of Objection first and send it with a ATTENTION:  Michelle MacDonald  on the front.  This is the case worker that understands what is going on.I am sorry if I misled some into thinking you could just reapply.  You must first file the Notice of Objection. I just got off the phone to Michelle and she gave me these instructions.  


Looks like sunshine is in the forecast though then it is also cold....oh, well half a dozen of one and the other is pretty nice weather anyway.

Hope yours is a happy month!

Leslie

DOG PARK NEWS

  I have good news for residents with dogs.  This just in from John Edmonson. 

John's original message:

Hello Residents of Chemainus Gardens from John Edmondson

Today I received permission from John Kelly to use the new fenced area in Phase 2, that is designated for future RV parking, as a temporary Dog Park.
Rick and I went up today and attached some fencing so the area can be closed off and I have ordered some signs.
( a note here:  the signs do cost.  If everyone donated $2.00 to John it would cover this cost.  If you do not know John, I would be happy to collect and give him any funds donated)
We have exclusive use of this area for our dogs for at least 60 days. Chemainus Gardens is supplying the space so it will be up to ALL OF US to adapt, BE RESPONSIBLE, clean up and manage the area.
Tomorrow we will get the signs up and a Garbage can in place...

From there it is open for any improvements we want to add.  For example there is a 30 foot section of the new chain link that needs some obstruction put in place to prevent the smallest dogs from getting out.

 We can talk more among ourselves about other details and how to respect each other's dogs, but it is available now for our dogs enjoyment

John Edmonson

  That is such great news!  Please do stop and thank both John and Rick for persevering and getting something done...especially for the larger dogs...

I'll send this off now..

JANUARY STILLNESS

As I was having morning coffee looking out over the Pond and watching the ducks skidding across on their bottoms I thought how fun it would be to "hostess" a Blog for our Community here at Chemainus Gardens. My New Years resolution:  to start a Blog that would serve to keep all residents interested in the doings of the Community up to date.  As I already pass along the Chemainus Community updates, I think adding this will be interesting at any rate!


A little background, for those who are new, about Charles and I. 

This is Hudson Bay Mountain  in Smithers, B.C. ( yes, Diana and Rick...we BOTH know all about this!) We lived here for 43 years.The photo was taken from Telkwa where we spent our last 12 years in the area. 
Beautiful and truly pretty, nevertheless cold. Shoveling snow can be a tedious chore after so long...walks in the rain are WAY more fun!

Cross country skiing was a great physical pastime, which we did as a family.  But once the kids were gone, it really becomes a matter of keeping warm and dry!  and winter just took too much time.  One couldn't leave before April and had to be home by end of September for sure.

We had looked for about 5 years in the area of Powell River for a suitable retirement place near our first son's place, as his children hadn't had local grandparents and we loved the coast. We were both raised on the coast!
Because Charles' mother was ill and we needed to be close by in case we got a call to come over the border to be with family, we decided in 2011 to cancel a trip to Alberta to visit friends and instead to tour the Island.  We were scheduled to camp with our kids at the Living Forest just outside Nanaimo but had arrived from Victoria with 2 days to spare.  We were just passing  Chemainus mural signs when Charles asked me if I'd like to stop in Chemainus for lunch. A friend of his had grown up in Chemainus and had recommended we visit about 25 years earlier!
So we arrived on a wonderfully breezy, sunny blue sky afternoon with the Farmers Market in full swing,the flute playing the song that was "our song" at our wedding!    We asked at the Tourist Bureau for a place to put our RV that was near enough to walk to town.  The rest is history.  We fell in love with the area and told our kids we were moving, sold our place 2 days after we got home and were back in a month.  Truly  this confirmed that we were in the right place! The day before we moved I met Rick (Lanihan) as I came out of the hair dressers and told him we were moving. When I told him where he almost shouted "WHAT?? we've looked everywhere and never found a place"  I gave him the name of the Gardens to look up on the Web...GUESS what??  He did!! We welcomed them our first Spring....


 Since then we have a nucleus of people that meet at the Bistro on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m.  A variety of topics are discussed and for the most part it catches us up on whats what!  We try to avoid pitched battles over ( you guessed it) religion and politics! Not that these subjects never come up, but that we respect everyone's point of view. 
 Charles and I volunteer at Chemainus Theatre at least 2 times ( once as Usher and once as Coat Check and Ambassador) for each show.  We also care for the Chemainus St. Michael's All Angels Cemetery with many other volunteers from other churches. We sing in the St. Michaels' Choir and I tend the gardens at the church. We feel that volunteering is the best way to flow into a small Community like Chemainus.  
The Senior's Center is a great place to do such a variety of things with like minded people.  We usually go to the Coffee morning on Fridays.

 Now enough of us.  

The first of December "Lights on the Pond" happened.  It was very beautiful looking out at the colors shimmering over the water at night! It makes December go much quicker, waiting for dark so you can turn on the lights!  

   For the 25th of December Karen had a great idea...to put on an Open House for anyone that was home for Christmas and would like to greet neighbors in a place bigger than our homes!!  It was so much fun!  I thought there might be time on my hands, so I took along a book...which I never cracked!!  from the time Karen, myself, Charles and Barry came in to warm it up and set up the cider in the crock pots it was fun.  I couldn't believe how fast a 3 hour window could go by!
 Cleanup was a breeze, as everyone divided up the "leftovers" and took them home!  I think Chris got more than he expected!!
 A huge "thank you for coming" to all who dropped in and generously brought more than enough hot appy's and dips, etc.  Again, Karen took the prize for the best "healthy" sweet stuff! She is working on a cook book that I personally can't wait to see come out.. she's a wonderful cook.  I'm sure there are more of you out there!
 Well, I think that's enough for now.  Comments are at the bottom of the page, if you care to leave one.  Let me know what you think.