Books, Baking, Bistro and Bottles

Were you there?

We had lots of volunteers come out to help us on the big day.  This is a huge physical undertaking for our members and we appreciate all the help we got in setting up.  Thanks to all who pushed tables, stacked books, priced baking, ran errands and  carried and carried and carried.  And, did you ever see such a speedy clean up?  Wow!  That must have been some kind of record...thanks, folks!

 
The Bottle Drive was steady with never more than we could sort and count comfortably.  Many people dropped by with a few items or some with a few large bags.  Even though the weather was a little chilly, everyone was smiling and we had time to chat.  Thanks to all our donors.

There were lots of books to choose from.

There was a lot of delicious baking...

Lovely handmade crafts...

And hot soups to warm us up.

These big sale days are as much about the friends we meet and the fun we have together as they are about the money we raise.  We did that, too!

Thanks to Barbara for the photos.

Remembering

There were many of our members among the crowd out on November 11 to honor the veterans of all the wars.

The young trumpeter  (in the gray coat) played  the Last Post and Reveille - very haunting.

Those who worked hard to get a cenotaph in Lynn Valley have given us a great gift.  Those who are remembered on this day, have given us even more.

 

"We will remember them."

 Thanks to Peter for the photos.

We need you!

We have a big sale coming up and we need some more volunteers to help us make it happen.  Especially with cleanup and setup.  Please just phone and leave your name and number with the receptionist. 

Of course, customers are always needed, too.  So,  spread the word around your neighborhood about this great event.  We're helping the environment in all kinds of ways.  You'll also be able to buy a tasty treat or a soup and bun lunch.  Come on down!

Brit night

Last night was our sold-out evening of fish'n'chips, beer and song.

Bob York and the New Yorkers dressed for the occasion. 

Our bar-tender did, too. 

Finally, the chippie delivered and we all opened our newspaper packages to some delicious halibut and chips.

 

We talked...

 

laughed...

and talked some more.

Everyone was ready for the trifle which topped off the meal.

Maybe some more beer?  Some more music?  Bob had that keyboard rockin'!

A fun night!  And it was the people that made it: diners, volunteers and musicians.  We'll do it again!

LVSA Walking Club

"...where never is heard a discouraging word; and the skies are not cloudy all day." 

These words from "Home on the Range" are exactly what the LVSA Walking Club is all about. As volunteer leader Del  says:  "we have a great time walking, talking and laughing together". 

Getting exercise in the fresh air with  friends is " very therapeutic for all of us"  no matter what the level of ability.

Everyone starts out together and soon the various levels sort themselves out. 

 
There are those who have to sit awhile  but they soon catch up with the rest. 

There's always something interesting to see.  This day took the walkers down to the waterfront along a new trail.  The view is wonderful!

The group heads out on forest trails or city sidewalks every Wednesday morning.  They always come back to Mollie Nye House to share coffee and goodies which they deserve after a morning's walk.  On the last Wednesday of each month, the group finds a place to have lunch before heading back. 

This was the end of the waterfront trail which led them to Lonsdale Quay  (about a 6 mile walk) where you can eat almost anything you can imagine.  Those soups look tasty!

Del  makes sure that everyone has a great experience.  She inspires a positive attitude  in what she thinks of as 'her' group.  There's always room for one more walker...maybe it's you?

Saying Farewell

Last Friday, we all got together to wish Jaimie well in her new job which starts the first of October.  There were lots of friends, old and new, on hand to make sure she knows how special she has become to us.

Some of us stood and talked...

and some sat and talked - and nibbled.

Jaimie was presented with a gift from members of her communities:  LVSA, LVCA and NVRC.  These two gorgeous orchids represent the h-u-g-e decorative container planted full of colorful flowers ready to go in her garden at home.  It was so big and heavy that no one wanted to carry it in and then back out again!  And, there's more.  Next spring, there'll be a magnolia ready to plant in her home garden, too.  This will always remind her of Mollie Nye House where the lovely pink magnolias bloom each spring. 

Thank you, Jaimie!  Come and visit any time.

What a night!

Our September Sizzle was a great success. This was a major fundraiser for LVSA and a new way of partnering with a community business.  Many thanks to Cedar Grove Restaurant for sharing their venue.

Lots of good food, conversation and a fun.

The 50/50 draws were very popular.

And so was the silent auction.  It takes a while to warm up but by the end of the evening, there were bidders lurking by their prize just daring someone else to outbid them.  We are very grateful for the Lynn Valley businesses, individuals and agencies who contributed items for the auction.

So many choices for dinner.

And, don't forget those Mountain Mojitos!  Can you tell I'm having fun?  Thanks to all who came out to support seniors' programs and activities  in Lynn Valley.

Our Face

These are the folks who greet you at Mollie Nye House - volunteers, every one.

They answer phones, sell tickets, register you for programs and are just generally the most helpful people.

To give each person the very best service, the reception volunteers get together every few months to review and renew.  And practice their smiles.

It's also a wonderful time for catching up with those who have been away for the summer.  And, mostly, their paths don't cross except at a shift change. 

If you're interested in sharing this fun job, just let Jaimie know.  If you can't find a shift that suits, put yourself on-call.  This is a most important list of volunteers!

Yesterday's Lunch

LVSA  has been presenting  a Hearty Lunch on a semi-regular basis.  It might be soup and bun, chili or sandwiches.  And there's usually a dessert.  Beginning in January, this will be a regular happening on every third Monday.  All you have to do is buy a ticket and show up.  The price is $5 for members and non-members.  This sounds like the perfect opportunity to bring a friend along.

Yesterday's offering was lasagna - two kinds!  A delicious vegetable and a traditional meat recipe.  Mmmm...yum!  My job was to get a photo of this lunchtime dish but I was sidetracked.  All that was left when I finally found my camera was some salad. We had good reviews on this, too.

Before, during and after the meal, everyone had an opportunity to participate in a trivia quiz.  And win prizes.  This time we learned a lot about Italy   You'll know who was there - they'll be dropping little facts about Italy into their conversations.

The next Hearty Lunch this fall is on November 16.  Be sure and mark your calendar.

First Day

It's the first day of school.  The holidays are over and  Mollie Nye House is open.

We're all ready to start the fall activities.  Look at the calendar on our web site - link in the sidebar - for a schedule or click on the link for the September/October newsletter for even more details. 

All aboard for fall fun!
 

Rice Lake

Walking is good exercise.  And it feels so good to walk when the air is fresh and clean after the rain. 

Yesterday, we visited Rice Lake.  This is an easy walk along a smooth path.  We can always see the lake even if it's through the trees. 

There is such a variety of things to see.  Families fishing for their dinner on a sunny afternoon could inspire bringing a rod next time we come.

The slugs are out in full force after a heavy rainfall.  A spotted banana slug seems to enjoy a dropped piece of popcorn.

Right now, the Himalayan jewel weed is blooming.  Such a delicate flower but a very tough plant.  It also has the most fascinating pop-it seed pods.  When ripe, they just explode to scatter seed everywhere. 

Why not take a walk on the wild side as the days become cooler and more walkable? 

Big Day

The September/October newsletter is up today.  Click here to read all the news.

This is the first time that we have been able to offer a direct link to this on our very own web page.  Wow!

One of the highlights in September will be our September Sizzle.  We're putting the FUN into fundraising.   Gather up your family and friends - come and have dinner at the Cedar Grove Restaurant in the Town Centre.  For every meal ordered, the restaurant will donate 10% to LVSA.  Also, every Mountain Mohito ordered will generate $1.00 for us.  These funds will help us provide quality programs and events for the seniors in our community.   

There will be a silent auction and three (!) 50/50 draws during the evening.  This is your chance to come out, have some fun and good food while supporting LVSA.

See the sidebar for reservation information - and don't forget to vote in our poll in the sidebar.

Brain training

They say it's never to late to start exercising.  And I always like how I feel after an hour of tai chi or a brisk walk in the fresh air.  Our bodies are designed to move.  And so are our brains.

Brains always feel better after a good workout, too.  Like our bodies, they can work harder and faster.  And they just might last longer.   Training your brain is fun.  Many people like to do puzzles.  Or study a new language or learn a new skill. We can even play games on our computers which can challenge the little grey cells. 

In our house, we like to do puzzles with paper and pencil -  a pen if we're feeling clever.  However, we don't agree which is the best kind of puzzle to do.  One of us loves the word play of a crossword.  The other is much more numbers-oriented and loves Sudoku.   It seems that there are definite preferences. 

What is your favorite brain training?   Leave a comment; vote in the poll.

This week's survey will find out whether numbers or words rule.  Look for the poll in the sidebar.

Our garden

Our garden is a wonderful place to visit.  When Mollie Nye lived in this house, she had a marvellous garden which is well-remembered by those who knew her.  While this is not the original garden, it has been created with love for all to enjoy.

You can walk through it on your way to, well, almost anywhere.

 
Or maybe you would like to choose a bench - there are many - and sit down and watch the flowers sway in the breeze.  There are always a lot of bees working their way through the blossoms.  There are heritage plants from the original garden when the house belonged to Mollie.  Look carefully, as you walk through,  for the rhubarb plant or maybe the horse radish.  These were two of her particular favorites. 

It takes a lot of work to maintain a garden as large and beautiful as this one.   We have volunteers who come out and do a lot of  spring cleaning in the garden.  A regular waters the plants in containers for us.  And we have work parties.  One is coming up next Tuesday, August 10.  Call in at the house and sign up.  You could pull weeds, dead head spent blooms.  There's sure be a job to suit your gardening skills and abilities.