| Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2005 - 02:33 am: |   |
Had no internet access. Fixed now.
My sister's knee surgery went well and she is home now. She called tonight, is getting around and starting physio tomorrow, six days after knee replacement. Wonderful!
We've had our neighbour, the cabinet maker in, to look at the kitchen, and I will have a couple of decisions to make regarding colors and hardware, but am looking forward to having the kitchen upgraded.
This is the year for staying close to home and working on the house and yard. We need to do some work on the lawn too, but I think we may bring in the experts!
There are a couple of places where the water seems to just sit, so we need it de-thatched and top-dressed...
I was so tempted to go looking for snow drops today, but think I may be rushing things just a tad. It's just that there seems to be a 'freshness' in the air, and now, with the house finches arriving, and the days getting longer, it's just feeling a little brighter! |
| Posted on Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 08:11 pm: | |
Had a visit with family last weekend (I love that!) and these were flowers from Viki! Are they not gorgeous! I just wish I could keep them forever. However, I took lots of photos.
I've fallen in love with Morden's Blush rose and think I'll have to find one for my garden this summer. The color of these tulips are so close...
And I wish I could grow tulips here... well they do grow, but then they are munched by the deer.
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| Posted on Monday, January 31, 2005 - 12:03 am: | |
On Friday I went to Bonitoad's for coffee and had an up close and personal view of a Cooper's Hawk. Think I'll post that photo here just because it was a significant experience.. and I now know for sure what it was. I'm not a 'true' birder, but I really enjoy watching them.
He frightened away all the little birds from my sister's bird feeder for a couple of days. We keep saying to ourselves that this is just the laws of nature but find we are very protective of our little birds that come to eat at the feeders. We're fairly lucky here that most of the birds get along well with each other.
I'm wanting to turn the soil in the garden, or cut back some plants, or hunt for blooms.. but it's just too early.
We have a brand new Wal-mart that just opened and they have a huge display of Spring flowers as you enter the store. It's so tempting to buy something. I just stood by them yesterday and sniffed them all. |
| Posted on Friday, February 04, 2005 - 04:18 am: | |
We went back to the Crow and Gate Pub yesterday but only saw one black swan. We didn't stop to ask if something happened to the other swan, and I haven't uploaded the photos, but the one that was there was amazingly friendly and I could get quite close.
Busy day though. We bought our new wood stove, and just unloaded it tonight after dark.
Wayne is still tidying up business to retire. Today was banking, and tomorrow he goes back to work but is expected to change jobs now until his last day of work. He'll actually be doing the job he liked the most. Wonderful.
Solomen seems to be feeling better. I'm looking forward to warmer, drier weather when he can go outside a bit more. I think that will help too.
Off to Bonitoad's for coffee in the morning so I should head for bed! Am loving this milder weather! |
| Posted on Friday, February 04, 2005 - 08:23 pm: | |
I spent a little time outside today, but didn't really work in the garden. The sun came out and so many of the crocus blooms opened, and the little snow drops at the base of the Trumpet Vine. I was tempted, but the snow levels are down on all the mountains and the temperature is dropping fast. It's good news for the ski slopes.
However, I did see these little buds on my Multi-Blue clematis... not trying to rush Spring or anything. But it does lift the spirits a little!!
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| Posted on Monday, February 07, 2005 - 01:25 am: | |
And this morning the little flowers were all covered with snow... However, by the afternoon, all the white stuff was gone. It's cold tonight (well, cold for us -2º C) and I see some sun in the forecast for tomorrow. Tonight I'm working on my seed and plant orders. Feels good!
I cleaned the sidewalks and driveway but spent the afternoon watching the Super Bowl. Great game! And what a half time show! |
| Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 03:38 pm: | |
We went to the big Service Awards Dinner and Presentation 'do' last night. Many people were honored and it was so well organized. The speakers were terrific. I think it's wonderful that the men and women who are responsible for the production of a fine product, who add to the economy of our province, who work together to make the whole complex run smoothly can come together from so many different departments and honor each others efforts. They are rewarded by the company, of course, with gifts, an open bar (and free taxi rides home) and ... a fine meal (that WAS the plan).
The menu sounded so good. Here's part of it..
Three Vegetable Chicken Consomme'
Fresh Spring Radicchio & Three Berries, Roasted Slivered Almond, Shaved Emmenthal finished with Raspberry Poppy Seed Dressing
Cornish Game Hen seasoned with Wild Rice
served with Caramalized Sweet Potatoes
Glazed Orange Brandy Sauce
Garnished with a medley of Baby Vegetables
The Consomme' was 1/3 cup, with a tiny bit of almost raw green onion and three pieces of raw carrot, served lukewarm.
I enjoyed the salad, but there were people at the banquet who had allergies to nuts and all the salads were premixed, so there were no options for them.
And then... More raw vegetables, and the Cornish game hens had been boiled......The sweet potatoes were cold.
Many of the people at our table were happy to see the shooters come, of course, well after the coffee was served.
But that was the only down side to the evening.
And Wayne was so honored by so many of his co-workers. Mind you, his was a 40-year award, and he wasn't the oldest one.
We came home and had popcorn!!
So he has a lovely watch now, that weighs so much, and he has to have a jeweler fit it for him. I think there is another award thing by the union. And then, I'm hoping we work this out, the retirees will host a celebration night at a local pub for the evening.
No swimming for me today. I was up late last night, and have a sick cat today. He ate some of the wrong cat food, and I guess it only takes a little of the wrong food now and his digestive system acts up. I'm hoping we can sort it out so he's okay for longer stretches. I don't want to even think about the alternative. He's only just turning five. So I mixed up some slippery elm and am trying to build up my courage to try it before I force it on him. Who know? It may save his life....but I kinda want to know what sort of stuff I'm making him swallow. (Where is Wayne when I need him?? Wayne's like Mikey...he'll try anything.) |
| Posted on Monday, February 14, 2005 - 03:42 am: | |
I worked in the garden today! It was so nice, digging out the bird seed, watching the worms.. I stayed until the birds made so much noise I realized I needed to pack up so they could chow down before it was too dark for them to eat. My goodness... And the cats had a wonderful time outside today. Solomen is looking great. All the cats seem to be feeling just fine. What a relief!
And I noticed that the tree peony is really starting to bud out, and this year I definitely have to stake it well. I think I'll have to anchor it to the house (and we have steel siding... oh well) because it is so large now.
I have the house colors chosen now. Everything is going to look so different.
Wayne and I went out for dinner on Friday and then visited friends and played Aggravation. What fun!
Had a good weekend. We're supposed to have more sunshine this week. I hope so. |
| Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005 - 10:19 am: | |
Barry called yesterday morning to say his dog, Caleb, was having more seizures. He had taken Caleb to the vets last week for tests so he was aware that there was a problem, and knew that Caleb's old body was wearing out. It just came a little faster than they all expected, and it's so sad when it does. Caleb was a gentle dog that had a wonderful life, and even this winter had his delightful romp in the snow, just the thing he loved. He chewed on rocks, a nasty habit he never outgrew. So many times I heard Barry say, "Spit it out!" and Caleb would spit out a rock! He also had a tendency to go walkabout, but with five acres of fenced property, and a pond that he could splash through to his heart's content, he was quite happy on the farm. This gentle creature may be gone, but will never be forgotten.
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| Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 03:19 am: | |
Another gorgeous sunny day, high of 11ºC! I dried clothes on the line and had a little walk around the front garden, let the cats out for quite a while. Am so laid up with a raspberry-colored toe and part of my foot. Dumb... dumb... dumb. On Tuesday I was hurrying around with housework, anxious to get out, and decided to step over the vacuum, rather than picking it up, and somehow caught my foot in the hose. Thought I was clever when I didn't fall... but then realized I'd done a bad thing to my toe. Today it feels a little better but what a sight!
I was surprised to see the blooms on my hellebores and wished I'd recharged the battery on my camera before I went out. However, there's tomorrow.
We had a flurry of birds at the feeder just before dark, but that young Cooper's Hawk is hanging around and scaring them away. Boni is having the same problem at her house, about a mile away.
It's a lovely out tonight. I'm sitting here in the moonlight and can see a sky full of stars.
Time for a bubble bath and putting my foot up again. (I've watched so much television today my eyes are sore!) |
| Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - 06:41 am: | |
Have managed to get Trumpet vine and Wisteria cut back, tree peony properly supported...and there's still so much to do. Had a couple of new mishaps with 'the toe' so have had to continue babying it and didn't get back to swimming yet. Wayne says I seem to have forgotten where my feet are. Just too much going on in my head. Or not enough.... New resolution to pay more attention, after all, it's in MY best interests.
Am on the look out for a new planter for the Ming Tree for my dining room table. Time for a change. Have a feeling I will find it outside the valley.
Weather continues to be beautiful for us, but horrible to the south and back east.
We have many, many new deer tracks in our yard each morning and suspect they sleep somewhere close by. I'm thinking this may not be a good thing...
Will head back to bed and see if I can sleep for the second half of the night. That would be lovely. |
| Posted on Friday, February 25, 2005 - 03:19 am: | |
Well, it's official now. I saw the doctor today and he said the toe's broken. Did it ten days ago now and the swelling is only halfway down and it's still a lovely color. However, I am getting around. I turned down X-rays. I'd also turn down having it taped (allergy to adhesive).
And Wayne has a swollen ankle and knee, so he'll be off to drs next week as well. Oh dear...
The bees were busy again today in the garden. It's just amazing how much pollen they are gathering already. I've managed to do some clean up in the front garden but don't want to remove mulch just yet from the shady gardens.
I saw our neighbour out with his rototiller yesterday and think I heard a lawnmower yesterday too (perhaps someone was cutting their fall rye), but we're not dry enough for that here. We have had an incredible amount of sunshine for February, but that doesn't mean we won't have more snow yet.
Busy day tomorrow. Wayne's last day of work...but we have about a week of being fairly busy before things begin to settle down. I'm looking forward to that... A new 'normal'... |
| Posted on Sunday, February 27, 2005 - 02:59 am: | |
Just popping in and out! Had son and family up today! Yes, grand girls were here! They are growing!! Didn't get many photos, and hope to fix that next time they come. We were busy putting the new wood stove in.
Had fog this morning but I was so relieved it had burned itself off by the time family arrived. No doubt the sun was shining on 'the other side of the Hump'. Our temp has actually gone up, but, of course, the rain is coming.
I'm planning to send off my plant and seed order on Monday. Tomorrow is the day for making decisions...being strict with myself. (Although I still have one trip to Victoria nurseries yet!)
Bushed! Will check out my photos tomorrow. |
| Posted on Monday, February 28, 2005 - 01:31 am: | |
Two of the girls have wiggly teeth!
This one is already missing four!
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| Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 12:11 am: | |
We came home from swimming on Monday and there was a lovely huge bouquet of flowers from Wayne's former employer for ME! Happy retirement, it said! Here's a photo of some of the flowers...
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