| Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 05:42 am: |   |
I brought in my last little Peace rose bud that has survived downpours and frost. I endured, and I could see that it just wanted to bloom, so I brought it in. Have posted it in the garden gallery, but will put it here too.
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| Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 02:11 am: | |
Well, it's been quite the week, and I'm thinking I need to sleep in tomorrow, cuddle the cats and hunker down for a day.
However, in the midst of trying to keep today's obligations in order (and I was tardy with them all), a neighbour called to say he wanted to bring something over. I was busy on the computer, so he talked with Wayne, handed him a brown paper bag, and then was back off home again. I had done a fair bit of computer work for their 50th Wedding Anniversary, but it was simple work for me, and not at all costly. Then we were on vacation and couldn't attend. We visited with them when we returned and were so thanked for our help with the festivities, had a wonderful time. Usually they offer us home made wine, and that's what I thought he brought today. (Wayne can drink the wine, but not me. I have half a glass and am flying!)
However.... it was not wine. It was a wooded bowl and lid that he made himself from a burl, and I don't even know what kind of wood. I must go down to their farm and thank them in person and get the details. Well... I was so choked up! What a beautiful gift from them, for the little bit of work I did! It's gorgeous!
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| Posted on Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 06:09 pm: | |
It's a beautiful sunny day. I went to town, without the camera, and this was the day the Trumpeter swans were on the river. We have a sanctuary for them and seldom actually see them unless we trek through the overgrown road to a place called Shoemaker Bay. Anyway, I came home and let the cats out for a while. They are having a blast! Will not put out bird feed until they come back in (although the birds are fairly safe from them anyway). So I cleaned the sidewalks and driveway and raked leaves off the deck (they were frozen to the deck close to the house).
Our youngest daughter and hubby were here yesterday and put a hutch and buffet together for us (Wayne helped at the end...he had been at work). We had such a nice visit, and it was hard to say goodbye.
And today I am waiting for our son and his girlfriend to arrive for a visit and supper. He has school photos of the grand girls!! And he says they are 'gorgeous'!
I'm off to enjoy a little more sun, maybe a stroll around the yard. It's amazing how much sunshine and good company can lift your spirits, even if you're feeling great anyway!! |
| Posted on Tuesday, December 21, 2004 - 04:22 am: | |
I had planned to scan the school photos, but ran out of time. I have to start up our old computer to use the scanner (can't get a driver for the new system), and this computer kept me busy. And I planned to paint the new hutch and buffet, but will have to do that later this week, or, at least, not tomorrow. So I gave some thought today to the new kitchen colors. I can start painting any time, and new curtains would be lovely.
I stopped in at Bonitoad's, looking for something I had misplaced, and I ended up finding it here, but I had a nice visit and saw her red-winged black birds return to the feeder with all their young. We live less than a mile from each other, and those birds never come here. She is very close to the river, and I'm much closer to the mountain. It makes such a difference.
Time for a soothing bath, with the book, and off to bed.
I read a David Baldacci (sp) book, called, The Christmas Train, and found it interesting for the most part, but the ending was ...well, unbelieveable. When I travel, I enjoy meeting new people. I think that's one of the best parts of traveling, and that's mostly what this book is about. But...
I do love an excellent book. Makes me feel rich! That..and a handful full of packages of seeds, a tray of bedding plants, ... even a seed catalogue just tickles my fancy! |
| Posted on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 04:21 am: | |
Still didn't scan the photos... I keep running out of time. Too much going on. And tonight my jaw is clenched and ears are ringing... AArrrgh...
I went to the pool today. First the bicep in my left arm started to ache. No problem. Then my achilles tendon in my left leg started to hurt. Then the middle finger on my right hand (no, I had not been exercising it!). But I started to laugh when I did my neck exercises and the muscles on the right side went into spasm. Time for the hot tub! Wayne and I went out for lunch, and then we bought two cell phones. Mine is red!
Time for my bath... But I wanted to post the photo of our son, (gardenbuddy Bearlee.. who is having computer problems at the moment), the fireman.
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| Posted on Sunday, December 26, 2004 - 04:10 am: | |
We spent the afternoon and evening with friends at the lake and had a wonderful time, lots of laughs. The atmosphere was so calm and cosy. Perfect.
This year has been so 'upside-down', and the last two weeks in particular. Plans... I suppose that has been the big thing, trying to make plans, to work around plans..
Wayne's employer just announced that one of the machines he works on is being shut down permanently. That just put over 200 men out of work. So many people we know are affected. Some of the men have worked in the mill almost 20 years and now...
But Wayne is an 'old-timer', so he is looking at retirement, to make room for the younger ones. We hadn't planned to do this right now, and still have no idea if the company is going to offer him a 'buy-out', or what his pension will be. We had been planning to do this not quite two years from now. It changes a few things for us....
We have big renovations planned for the house this year, things that really must be done, so having the time to do them is great, but I have no idea what our financial future is... I guess it's the unknowns that disturbs me.
Gosh, do you think he will finally clean out the barn and his shop??? Wouldn't that be something!!! Maybe he will weed the garden... or perhaps he will spend more time fishing... Or maybe he will stick with the plan...
I don't know if grand girls are coming tomorrow. Will have to wait and see, and hope..
We sold my step-dad's truck, so that is a good start for the new year.
And I've picked up the latest seed catalogue and a pen I don't know how many times, but just haven't focused. Maybe the timing is just a bit off. I really need to feel better. However, the idea of evening scented stocks very close to the patio door seems like a wonderful idea. |
| Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 02:28 am: | |
We have all three grand girls... and Poppa Wayne is off to work tomorrow, so I have them to myself for the day! Wow! Hope to get some good photos! And have some great times! |
| Posted on Friday, December 31, 2004 - 07:05 pm: | |
It's been a busy week, and I've not had much time with gardenbuddies. It will be fun to do some catching up! We have fresh snow on the Beaufort and the forecast is for colder weather. I had coffee with Bonitoad this morning and she has a snowdrop trying to bloom.
One more dinner with the grand girls and their daddy and they're off. Poppa Wayne and I are going to have a quiet evening ... very quiet...
I can hardly believe we're at the end of another year. This year we had such a wonderful holiday.
The world is shaken by the tsunami disaster and, no doubt, will be a focus for many nations in offering as much help as possible.
My mind cannot comprehend it all.
If I make any resolutions for the new year it will definitely have something to do with having more appreciation for what I have and focusing more on living each day as though it is the very best day. |
| Posted on Monday, January 03, 2005 - 12:43 am: | |
It's cold here right now, but we had a gorgeous sunny day! Wayne had a nice fire at the burn pile and the young cats even went out for a little while. Out temperature is forecast to go down to -8ºC, which is rather cold for us here on the coast, but we're not expecting snow until Thursday or Friday.
I had a dream last night about changes to the house and gardens. I liked the gardens, but the house changes were dreadful! (I think I'm just going through a stage where I have to cope with life changes.) And I see blooms here at gardenbuddies and get all enthused about growing them here. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm working toward co-operating with my zone, rather than introducing plants that require a lot of care (even though they are so beautiful). That's just the trouble! I want them all!
Back to swimming tomorrow! I'm so looking forward to it! We bought a family pass for the year!
So, when I go to town tomorrow I will take the camera and perhaps will see the swans as they cruise down the river. Our forecast is for sunshine Monday and Tuesday! Wonderful! |
| Posted on Thursday, January 06, 2005 - 11:00 pm: | |
It seems to be too cold for the swans to come out. There's actually ice on the Somass River! It is cold here. (Well...for this part of Canada.) We don't have the snow that much of the rest of Canada has, and even much of the Island, although I probably should not have said anything. Our forecast is for the white stuff.
Went to the Rose Gallery and drooled for a while. How I miss the roses!
Didn't swim today. Saw the Dr. for a shot instead. He said that if it didn't work, come back to the office, he'd be there for me. So I'm hoping it's feeling well enough for a swim tomorrow.
I think it would feel so much better if I could just feel some sunshine!!! Warm sunshine!
Some of our swim buddies have headed off to warmer climates, but two of them went to Thailand and no one has heard from them. Everyone is affected by this monstrous disaster.
I'm going back to my heating pad and chair by the fireplace, with the latest seed and plant catalog. What could be better on a snowy evening? |
| Posted on Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 12:13 pm: | |
We've had quite a different weather situation here on the island and the east coast has had a terrific snowfall. Last night our son was sitting in 16 inches of new snow and our daughter has the same or more, but is close to the Malahat which is closed due to trees down (and over 3 feet of new snow). I'm not sure how Victoria has faired, but do know that they have more snow than here. We've had barely a skim, although it's been very breezy and cold. The heavy snow fall areas have had long power outages and 15 hydro trucks have come over from the mainland to help out. We had power out here for a while yesterday afternoon... maybe 4 hours, and were grateful for the wood stove. Very quiet afternoon.
We're not laughing though. We can't go out of the valley because of the snow. Kinda stuck here.
While it was snowing down island yesterday on the east coast, the sun was shining here. Quite different.... |
| Posted on Saturday, January 15, 2005 - 02:16 am: | |
It's been a cold week and we're supposed to warm up a bit, so that means we have a snowfall coming. Then it turns to rain. We've been lucky here in the valley that we didn't have the snow that the east coast had. Butchart Gardens has suffered several losses and won't know how much damage there is until Spring. But they have lost several trees, some of them 40 years old. The snow was so heavy, and would thaw through the day some, then freeze again at night.
Well, we had word today that Wayne is retiring. I don't have the date. It's either the beginning or end of March 2005, so we have a new beginning to our lives. My goodness... this will be interesting... We have a few decisions to make. (Wonder if this means he'll have more time to help me weed the gardens??? Or do you think he'll be off fishing more??)
Well, it's been a long day. I'm off to bed with my Sue Grafton book. Life is good! |
| Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 03:08 am: | |
It's a soaking wet day here, flooding, snow is melting, heavier rain is forecast for tomorrow, snow is melting off the mountains... good time to be a duck! But it is considerably warmer too.
I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but I do hope the temperature goes back down and we have more snow, or we will have a dry summer again! Good grief! Are we ever happy with the weather!!
Today we spent looking at the retirement options. So much to learn. So little time to choose, and we want to do it right! And we have to rush our dentist's and optometrist's appointments too because those benefits end.
However, I was home in time to watch Nate on Oprah and seized the opportunity to sort myself out again and be grateful for all that I have. It was so heart wrenching to watch him talk about his experience in Sri Lanka, and to see him cope with such losses, and such acts of kindness. I am so pleased that he has decided to grasp life and hold firm to what he has.
And tonight... I'm wishing I was back on the cruise ship, docked just off the coast of Maine on a beautiful balmy September evening. This was home.... a wonderful memory...
I actually bought some seed tape this week. Thought the grand girls would have a little fun with them! |
| Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 07:52 pm: | |
Well, I gave my heart a work out today. Usually after swimming on Wednesdays, we all go for lunch at a local shop. We've had warmer temps today and a lot of the snow is gone, but there's still ice underneath the piles. As I headed home, I went to stop at a four-way stop, and my tires just wouldn't grab any traction on the ice and I sailed through the intersection. I was going so slowly, and am so thankful there were no other vehicles. I would have been okay I suppose, except my car was facing downhill.
The group is talking about starting up a 'red hat society', so I will be looking into that a bit.
I'm hoping the weather has improved for Washington State. We've had a bit of a reprieve here, but not without fatalities. I haven't turned the news on today. My house is quiet. Cats are fed and sleeping. All is calm.... |
| Posted on Sunday, January 23, 2005 - 12:15 am: | |
Thursday was coffee day at Bonitoad's because our older sister was scheduled for knee replacement surgery on Friday morning, so I headed over in the fog, using the donkey trail short cut to get there. A Great Blue Heron had landed in the middle of the trail so I had to stop my car and wait for it to move. Usually they are shy birds and will readily move away from vehicles and people. But this one would only move a few feet and then land on the trail again (the trail is very narrow). I was only creeping forward with my car and having to come to a full stop before it would move again. Eventually it flew around the corner, but when I carried on and drove around the bend in the road, it was back, directing in my path. Finally it flew up, and it has a very wide wing span, into the trees.
When I reached my sister's house, my Mom was there, but had not been there long. She had come from the opposite direction, and had also had to stop because there was a Great Blue Heron on the road in her path. Odd.
I didn't take this photo... but this is what they look like. We would often see them when we walked the dyke, and they would appear out of the mist!
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