You know you live in the middle of nowhere when a trip to Nakusp (population 1,500) is the main excitement of the day.

The purpose of the trip? Getting my summer tires switched out for winter (yes, already – mandatory by October 1). Wow! Such thrilling times! I can hardly contain myself.

It gets better. I’d heard, but always forgot to look up, Jennifer’s Chocolate Shop. It turned out to be two blocks from Kal Tire – but then, it’s Nakusp so pretty much everything is two blocks from Kal Tire. But here’s the thing: Jennifer makes extraordinary chocolates – as good as any I’ve had in the biggest of cities. Her truffles are to die for!

So that was great – then a walk along the very pretty waterfront where Autumn crocuses and asters were in full bloom. Not a cloud in the sky and the temperatures in the mid-twenties. Could it possibly have been a more perfect day?

At Overwaitea (more excitement – an actual big grocery store!) I bought all the things I can’t get anywhere else – like almonds and walnuts and, for the puppies, chicken gizzards. I have to explain – they love chicken gizzards so much they actually cry when they get them. I bought a good supply.

Yes – there it is – the thrills, chills and spills of my “big town” day.

New subject – in support of the Law of Attraction. Two days ago I was telling Tammy about my crazy French-Canadian hiker friends, Francis and Ben. Yesterday, while I was in New Denver waiting for Simon at the Nikkei Centre, I wandered up the street and noticed Francis’ house – which he is still renovating. Today, Francis phoned me (and no – I have not spoken to him since February or March). He wanted to know about hiking – so of course, he’s coming with us tomorrow.

Coincidence? I think not!

Oh boy! Jardine tomorrow.

Even better – today I spent an awful lot of time thinking about my next story – pretty fully formulated in my mind. On Saturday, I’ll be writing it. I’m excited about being excited about writing again. It feels like the balance is coming back into my life.