"What's All The Buzz?"

I'm into my 3^rd week of being a 'lefty'. It's tiring. No matter what job it is......doing the dishes or putting them away, folding clothes or making the bed, having a shower or brushing my teeth.....everything takes twice as long. I am managing pretty good though even if I do say so myself.

While at the hospital several forms had to be signed and I have to tell you that even I couldn't decipher the name that I penned but now only several weeks later I can read the scribble that passes for my handwriting. It's amazing how quickly one can adapt.

The long list of jobs that need to be done within the first month we are here are for the most part being crossed off the list due to a combined effort. Since I cannot slice, dice, chop, julienne, cut or chunk Mike has become my sous chef. Making hugh pots of spaghetti sauce and chili, several cauldrons of soup, along with a tray of stuffed green peppers is a must-do job so we can use up all the produce before it is only fit for Sammy, Norm and Al.

The vacuum packers are also scheduled to go out on the barge to be serviced this year so the push is on to re-portion all the cheeses into smaller quantities and vacuum seal along with several boxes of extremely over ripe bananas ( all the better for breads and cakes) plus cases of pork chops, chicken breasts, whole chickens and steaks to prevent any freezer burn.

There are numerous jobs like rearranging freezers, reorganizing the kitchen to suit my needs, washing windows, sweeping the boardwalk ( I just cannot hold a broom to save my soul) and scrubbing floors that will have to sit on the back burner for now till I'm restored to my former capable self.

We knew a chopper was coming in to pick up some parts but I had no sooner heard the buzz than there he was landing on the upper heli pad. I love these pint size helicopters and what I wouldn't give to be able to skim along the beach and set down whenever we saw something that looked intriguing. It would be the perfect beach combing vehicle.

The pilot must have heard me telling the co-pilot who had jumped out first that the parcel they were here for was down at the crew shack because before I knew it the bird was in the air again, actually the pilot must have seen me gesturing towards the docks. No need to carry the box up here, we'll just go down there to get it.

I know it's only been 29 days since we arrived but the weather has been beautiful. Sunshine everyday – well almost everyday, warm (for here) with only a light breeze turning the glassy bay into a pattern of swirls and ripples. It's the kind of weather that begs you to venture out and explore. Nothing would be nicer than to get the double-man kayak wet but what would be horrendous would be getting my stupid cast wet! Chances are I would be perfectly OK but accidents happen, that's how I got here in the first place so land bound we stay.

Take out the workboat you say.....well the “work” in workboat these days implies the work to be done on the boat. She hasn't been in the best of shape these past couple of years and our viewpoint concerning her condition is you only take her out as far as you are willing to paddle back. Once again my 'condition' has thrown a wrench into these plans since Mike would be the sole paddler, which would be no easy feat so we are once again land bound.

We wander along the beach, stomp along the easier going paths of the forest and spend time sitting on the heli pad gazing at the nearby islands to be explored, so tempting yet just out of reach. We will have to wait till spring this year to venture out on the water for the time being we are land bound.

If you've got a craving for that special sweet dish than your best bet these days is to make it yourself. Getting by right now with doing minimal cooking and trying to make meals that don't require me do use a knife or better yet a fork....think about it there is of course soup, we all love chicken wings, there's french fries, chili, hamburgers (although messy) sandwiches and pizza...this has been my culinary level for now. Not very healthy for sure but these are special circumstances and require certain sacrifices to be made.

Mike was concerned I may not be getting enough fruit in my diet and was sweet enough to make an apple crisp, I will not mention that this just happens to be one of his all time favorite deserts. He searched the internet for a recipe since this was to be his apple crisp. The results..........

I meant to take pictures of it as it came steaming out of the oven and than maybe in a nice dish topped with a scoop of ice cream but before I got around to it this is all that was left. It was really good. What is even better is that from now on I can say “Hey hon, why don't you make your apple crisp tonight?”

.....hummm maybe I'll suggest he try his hand at pies.

“You hear that buzz? It's a helicopter.”

What do I do when I hear a plane or see a boat – grab the camera.

We have choppers buzz over us each year, we assume we're just on their flight path but this particular one was really checking us out. So there I am standing on the front deck, head on to the whirling blades getting some great shots when I thought maybe I should get to the radio and say Hi.

“Outpost here, good morning”

“Hi”

“Nice day for a flight”

“Yep”

“ Just out doing a fly by”

“Your on camera”

“I'm in my pyjamas!”

“Brian would like you go upstairs and open the curtains?”

“ OK?”

So off I go upstairs to open the curtains and than rush back to the kitchen to see if there are any other requests. The helicopter hovers right in front of the windows for a few seconds, getting some pictures I guess and than without another word is gone.

What the heck was that all about?

Enjoying the last few moments of the afternoon sun.

Till next time,
Heather & Mike

We've Only Just Begun

It was a late start for us this season, arriving back at the Outpost on August 22^nd. Each year it feels more like we are returning home after a long vacation.

There were only a couple of new faces in the group that made up the summer crew so with hugs and “how was your summer?” out of the way we loaded the wagons and began our process of settling in.

A bit of work and a lot of letting loose happens in those first few days as the end of another season has successfully been pulled off. By Sunday the anticipation of only a few days left before they would all return to the world of cell phones, fast food, friends, school and TV reception had them all deep into inventory lists, bagging bedding, bagging fish, stowing away or tossing out. Mike and I have developed our own list of things that we like to check and take care of trying to keep out of everyone’s way for the time being.

Around 2 pm this particular day I disrupted the routine.

Funny how my first thought was of my glasses, which were no longer on my face.

Likely because I had just gotten them this summer and they had cost me $$$$!

Lying on my right side, legs tucked up and my head cushioned by a mossy patch, I realized I had slipped on the stairs and went flying. No immediate pain but I did see blood and felt a wetness trickling down the side of my nose.

It only seemed like seconds before there was a crowd of people gathered around, all wondering what had happened. Paul later told me when he first saw me he thought perhaps I was looking for mushrooms. He and Stephanie are great hunters of fungi and have been educating Mike on what can be found in the area. It was only when I turned my head to look up at him he saw the blood and knew not all was right.

When it came time to uncurl myself and try and stand it became apparent that my right wrist didn’t look so good. Not wanting to bore you with a minute by minute description Justine along with Hannah and Gwen had the 'flap' of skin (nose) repositioned and bandaged plus a splint to hold my wrist in place. Mark had already called Air Ambulance so now it was just a waiting game. Weather from our point of view looked good for a flight but at the other end it was blowing a good 40knts. As the hours ticked by I was actually beginning to feel pretty good. To tell you the truth I'm not sure what time the helicopter landed but my bag was packed and thank goodness the pilots said that it was OK for Mike to come along. I felt rather foolish being strapped onto the stretcher and tucked in with blankets but according to Mary Loo and Mike ( the paramedics) this is how a patience must fly. Reclining back and enjoying the view from my comfy bed I thought this is likely the closest I'll ever get to flying 1^st class! Just over an hour later we arrived in Prince Rupert where the ER doc had me x-rayed, re-splintered, added 5 lovely stitches to my nose, gave me a handful of painkillers and told me to show up at 8 am sharp to meet Dr. Smith, the orthopedic surgeon.

By 9 am Mike and I had met with Dr. Smith, been explained the procedure that was to take place, had an arrow drawn on my arm to assure that all the players knew which wrist to work on and told to sit back, relax and wait. The staff at PR hospital were all very nice and kept apologizing for having to ask me the same questions over and over as each new nurse came in to hand me a gown, insert an IV, give me some painkillers, wheel me into the holding area and than one more time before I felt that cold sensation run up my arm and than I'm out like a light.

When I awoke from the best sleep I've had in a long time I am sporting a nice new blue cast. What you can't see are the 2 stainless steel pins that have a tendency to jab me every time I move the wrong way. Must learn not to move that way.

In 6 weeks time I'll have to make the trip back to Rupert to have the cast and pins removed, which will be a whole new experience to add to my memories.

When the doctor said I had to come back in a week to have the stitches removed Mike and I just looked at him and said “Well that's not going to happen.” Than Mike pipes up “ I can take them out.” Dr. Smith seemed to think that this was OK so supplied us with the necessary tools.....scissors, tweezers, gauze and a scalpel. I supplied the 'shot'.

A week later and we are preparing for the removal of my stitches. Am I nervous?....well maybe a little. I did feel better after Mike found some glasses he could actually see the minuscule bits of thread with and brought in the engine room work light for me to hold.

 

Capped, masked and sterile. Ready to operate.

Well that's enough about me.

We're becoming reacquainted with our 4 legged friends.

Nothing remarkable about this picture but it was our first night that the Outpost is once again our own.

Till next time,

Heather & Mike