owikazowi

"Blank" is not the same as "None"

2008-03-25T18:15:00.000-07:00

I am a bright person. I consider myself adept at using most common software applications. Today, though, I was reminded of how a seemingly insignificant change will gum up the works and take a long time to unwind. (Non-geeks may want to skip the rest of this post.)

I reset the default email account in my MS Outlook email. I checked to make sure my email signature was applied to the new account. I also browsed at the stationary options, thinking I might tart-up my email a bit. After browsing, I decided to stick to just plain email, no stationary. Or so I thought. In fact, I had reset the stationary picker to "blank", instead of the previous setting which was "none." I messed up the signature, made some mystery attachment appear on the email and spent almost an hour to troubleshoot what I had done.

When people ask how I spend my days, sometimes it would be a mistake to reply with the truth.

Two redecorated rooms

2008-03-19T19:44:00.000-07:00

Following our path to a serene and lovely inn: we have redecorated two of our rooms.

One, the Playa del Norte room,
is Mexican inspired.

The other, the Yama Shoken room, is Japanese inspired.

Secret 4's

2008-03-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

My former neighbor, friend and dedicated blogger Anna tagged me with the secret 4's. See Anna's secret fours (and lots of other fun stuff) on her blog, Three Sneaky Bugs .

Lori's 4's are:

4 jobs I’ve had - Puppeteer for the Edina Park Board, Wardrobe mistress for Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, Realtor, Lawyer

4 favorite movies - Man who would be King, LOTR (all), Shakespeare in Love, Shawshank Redemption

4 places I’ve been - Skye, Scotland; Isla Mujeres, Mexico; Paris, France; Meat Cove, Nova Scotia

4 places I’ve lived - Minneapolis, MN; Honolulu HI; London, England; Sooke British Columbia

4 favorite tv shows - Don’t watch tv but have enjoyed dvd’s of Six feet under, Soprano’s (for awhile), Ballykissangel and Grey’s Anatomy

4 favorite radio programs - As it Happens, The Splendid Table, A Prairie Home Companion, The morning show with Dale and Jim Ed

4 favorite foods - Curry, macaroni and cheese, salmon, wine

4 places I’d rather be - in Mexico on the beach, in the Scottish Highlands, in balance with work and leisure, in better shape.

New Eagle Nest

2008-03-19T19:29:00.000-07:00

HOORAY! The eagles have rebuilt a nest. And it is more than we ever could have hoped for, as it is in plain view of the dining room window. Basically right above the hot tub. Can you say WE ARE THRILLED. Both eagles have been in/near the nest for the last couple days.

We are exploring the possibility of an eagle cam in a neighboring (neighbouring for you Canadian spellers out there) tree. Stay tuned.

Left-over haggis

2008-01-27T18:26:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed our 1st annual Robert Burns Supper at the inn last evening. The guest of honor, of course, was the haggis. The highlight of the evening was the Address to the Haggis (given brilliantly by guest Wylie).

Now that the guests have gone home and the washing up is done, the burning question is what to do the the left over haggis. HLTs (haggis, lettuce and tomato) or haggis pizza? One web site suggest that you can eat haggis for dessert with a splash of Drambuie... Recipes suggestions would be gratefully received.

Even more that exciting than usual...

2008-01-15T18:49:00.000-08:00

There are two professional, experienced, dedicated whale watching companies in Sooke. The captain of one of them, Captain Jeff Lorton of West Coast Wildlife Adventures, and his guests had a more exciting than usual whale watching adventure last May. Captain Jeff responded to an emergency call about a marine fire near Pillar Point. The rescue was captured on video and available on YouTube.

We were fortunate to enjoy two whale adventures last year (without the at-sea rescue) and highly recommend the trip. West Coast Wildlife Adventures and Sooke Coastal Explorations will be open for tours from May until October.

Eagle's Nest

2008-01-13T11:50:00.000-08:00

Last year, a nesting pair of eagles had two fledglings in their nest on our property. We had the fun of watching the eaglets learn to fly and hunt. The nest came down in a huge wind at the end of the year. The eagles have been talking for the last week (hopefully about starting reconstruction).

Operation: Leave the Inn

2008-01-12T09:55:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is about trying to extricate myself from the inn, but it is like launching an expedition:

Round up purse, keys, correct jacket (rain or no rain); try to leave.

Remember that the library books have to go back; back inside.

Open car door and think "I should bring some water"; back inside.

Head for car again and remember cell phone; back inside.

Out the door; remember that I haven't forwarded the inn phone to my cell; back inside.

Realize that I don't have my list; back inside.

Forgot key for mail box, to check and see if packages need to be picked up at the hardware store (our Home Hardware includes a Canada Post, a florist and, go figure, hardware).

It has started or stopped raining; back inside to grab alternate jacket and sunglasses (we do have sunshine and rain at the same time).

Decide to go the restroom again, since it has now been 15 minutes since I first tried to leave).

Change my mind about the going to the store and go the beach instead (since by now it will be dark before I get back from the village).

Re-Decorating

2008-01-10T12:43:00.000-08:00

As many of you may know, so far our efforts at the inn have been mainly un-decorating or a feng shui-like clearing of clutter out of the rooms. (More gory details of this process will follow in future posts.) Now the fun of re-decorating our seven rooms will start. We would welcome feedback, suggestions and comments on the plan.

Here is our tentative plan:

The inn rooms will be (gradually) redone to reflect a pan pacific theme. For example we are contemplating rooms that would reflect the following aesthetics:

Japanese
Chinese
Mexican
Tahitian
Californian
Pacific NW First Peoples
New Zealand
Mongolian
Maritime

Where might you choose to stay with these choices?

Welcome to the Ocean Wilderness Inn Blog

2008-01-01T19:19:00.000-08:00

Greetings, Friends of Ocean Wilderness Inn

Lori & I decided to start this web log, to help share news & commentary about our lives as owners of Ocean Wilderness Inn (OWI), Sooke, British Columbia. We plan to document some of our work activities (like Inn improvement projects), as well as to log some commentary about the natural world around us. You're welcome to read, and add comments if you like. If you're looking for accommodations, please visit our regular website, at http://www.oceanwildernessinn.com/.

Having moved here from Minnesota in March 2007, this is our first New Year in Canada. Because we're living in the Canadian Tropics (Pacific coast rainforest), the midwinter weather here is quite a bit warmer than in Minnesota. There, the high was about 7 degrees F today, and plenty of snow was covering the ground:

~12/26/07 Twin Cities, Minnesota

Here at OWI, the high today was in the upper 40's, with a small amount of snow left from a couple days ago. Some pictures from our grounds, today:

1/1/08, OWI Front Yard

1/1/08, Japanese Gazebo/ HotTub

1/1/08, A Steller's Jay

Looks like spring is just around the corner....

1/1/08, primrose blooming