| Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 01:25 am: |   |
Just came home for a wonderful presentation by 'Canadian Gardener' David Tarrant at the local garden club. Our youngest daughter and myself were guests, plus my older sister and mom, niece and friends. It was absolutely lovely. Wish I could have taped the talk to listen to all over again. He's very entertaining and so 'down to earth'. It's so delightful to listen to a renown gardener who finds beauty in everyone's garden, no matter now different their style, and he has such a neat sense of humor. The local garden club is celebrating it's 5oth anniversary so David Tarrant was the perfect speaker to share this joyous occasion. It was wonderful, and something I won't soon forget! |
| Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 02:50 am: | |
We've had one full week of retirement, and were so busy, and already have six appointments in the first two days of next week. I am determined to go swimming on Monday. Tuesday is out of the question because of an 11 a.m. invitation at the mill (and I'm thinking my toe will be thanking me. How long does it take a broken bone to heal anyway?) But I had no idea that this would be such a stressful time.
Our sunny days are gone and we're back to light rain, but the temperature is still quite warm. I think I was rushing Spring anyway.
It was a sad day...for many reasons. Tomorrow will be better. |
| Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 02:05 am: | |
I can hardly believe it's been two weeks. They're actually a blur. However, I'm feeling much better.
We had some lovely weather, but it's raining out now. Looks like we have a wet week ahead of us.
And I have a fresh bouquet of flowers on the dining room table. Wayne had his last (I think) retirement 'do' on Thursday night. There are a lot of freesias in this bouquet, and some lilies.
Here's a rose from one of the bouquets..
Am bushed! We dug up buttercups today. Great fun!! But I was dreaming all the time of what the garden will look like this summer... |
| Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 11:29 pm: | |
Our temp is dipping down to -5ºC tonight. Not too good for all the blossoms. There was a decided nip in the air today. I had a little walk around the garden today and enjoyed my little favorite primroses again.
 |
| Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2005 - 07:31 am: | |
Cold again tonight but the moon is just beautiful. I should be sleeping...
The day was not as eventful for me as it was for Wayne. When I put clothes on the line I wasn't expecting the wind to pick up. The first item out got caught on the hook on the clothesline pole. Wayne had a rather traumatic fall from that pole several years ago, and it's caused him to be very shy of heights. However, brave soul that he is, and with a little help from me and some rope, he managed to go up the extension ladder and bring my pj's down!! (Where are kids when you need them??)
So, here I am, middle of the night, doing some research, drinking a rather milky hot chocolate, and I think now that I can get some sleep. (And, keeping Greg's disaster in mind, I've kept the drink far away from the keyboard..)
Night all. |
| Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 01:28 am: | |
I can hear the rain just pounding down on the roof! We've had a fair bit lately. Guess I won't be in the garden tomorrow. Plenty of other things to do!
We're beginning to settle into a 'retirement' schedule and Wayne is keeping himself quite busy. My house is still a little upside down, with some projects just about to start.
I'm feeling better, but am now very, very leery of new medications. Perhaps I'm more leery of not trusting my own judgment in the first case. Lets just say, lesson learned, the hard way.
Time for my soak in the tub and a quiet time with my latest book.
'night |
| Posted on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - 08:10 pm: | |
We are certainly experiencing spring-like weather at the moment. It's everything from sunshine to downpours to rainbows (some are doubles) to hail! And I expect we'll have this for a least the next week. Guess I'll be painting in the carport!
Tomorrow we're taking a break from the 'usual' and heading down Island. I have a book in at Chapters in Nanaimo and we'll have a browse around a few nurseries, check out some furniture. What a life!
I'm hoping to find a couple of little pasques tomorrow and perhaps a different variety than the two I have here. I love them, especially how soft they not only look but how they feel as well. With their little bobbing heads... |
| Posted on Thursday, April 07, 2005 - 03:49 am: | |
Time certainly flies! Got my book, got the pasques, had a lovely day, dinner with two offspring! Heard from our youngest (email from the Philippines) - glad to know that all is well!
Our Red-headed woodpeckers are back at the hydro pole, pecking away on a new spot for a nest. The pole is already very weakened, and the hydro company knows about it. Will have to watch out for them from now until babies have hatched and flown away. I took a picture and will edit, but am amazed at how low they're working on the pole. Think I'll have a stroll around the neighbourhood, when we have a break in the rain, and see if they're working on any other poles this year.
Boni phoned today and said she picked up a couple of plants for me. One is a bright green heuchera!
Didn't swim today. We had the cabinets makers here, working in the kitchen. (Gave my toe a day off... I've never had so much trouble with a broken bone before, but it must be 9 weeks, or so, since I broke it, and it's still quite swollen in the evening and definitely feels the cold before any other part of me. When I walk into the pool and can feel it going 'ping, ping, ping'.)
Perhaps I'll go swimming tomorrow. Should be the last day for the kitchen to be so out of sorts! (But it looks great!) |
| Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 03:16 am: | |
The hydro pole across the road is busy again, this time with a family of Flickers. Both parents are working on a nesting site quite low. Last year a red-headed woodpecker family raised their young in a very high nest and were bothered by crows sitting on the lines. Our neighbour is hoping these birds don't peck away at the metal box like the woodpeckers did. It drove him crazy.
But the pole is very weakened. I'll take a couple more photos to show all the holes they have up and down the pole. A high wind could cause the pole to snap.. So I'm hoping hydro changes the pole this year, after the babies have left!
Kitchen cabinets are done. Now we get to paint!
And I'm hoping the weather improves a bit so my pasques can open. The mauve is almost there!
Busy day tomorrow, but I hope to get to the pool. I don't know quite how my life suddenly got so busy.... |
| Posted on Sunday, April 10, 2005 - 03:25 am: | |
Had fun watching the flicker today. He is quite bold. And we had some entertainment with a raven and some crows. The crows chased the raven all over the neighbourhood, so I don't know what that's all about, but it was loud and busy.
I put clothes to dry on the line today. It was quite warm, although I can still see snow on the Beaufort Range. Having snow on the mountains is a good thing here on the coast, but it's just a little late this year.
My kitchen is almost together. Just a little painting and we're done with the cupboards and drawers. Then I can get the walls done. (Wish I had the camera on when I mentioned to Wayne about the job being completed when the floor is replaced! He spent the afternoon working on the foundation... Always something with a house.)
Time to find another book... and head off to bed. |
| Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 10:17 pm: | |
Our weather is very odd.. quite cold for this time of the year on the coast, and also very wet. I put a couple of plants in the garden today but will wait to plant more. (I'm also waiting for my order to come in!)
We're still working on renovations and I've a computer project on the go, and am knitting a wee baby outfit for the little addition to the family expected in October. Wayne and I will need to learn some words in Tagalog, I'm sure, to understand what the little one is saying (Baby will be raised with two languages, which I think is great. SIL speaks several languages.)
Swam today and had lunch with the group. Several of them belong to the Red Hat Society, and this particular group really knows how to have fun! Also, all the ladies at the table received a lovely rose today...a random act of kindness! Very nice!
Nibbs has come for a visit. She is very demanding at the moment.. Maybe it something to do with spring and will 'blow over'... I hope.
Must get back to work!
Here's a couple of spring flowers from my garden.. you can see that it had been raining and splashing up on the trillium.
And this Pulsatilla is called 'Red Klokke'.
 |
| Posted on Friday, April 15, 2005 - 05:48 am: | |
Another night and I am having trouble getting to sleep. Am hoping our youngest daughter is fine.
Weather is still cold and wet. I'm going to have so much work to do in the garden when it dries out a bit!! Still have mulch in half of the front garden!
And Solomen is feeling better. I think he will have to stay on this diet for the rest of his life, and he's only 5, but I'm pleased to see that he is comfortable.
Nibbs, the Torbie, is from the same breeder but not related to Solomen and 'Kuna. However, Nibbs and Solomen are very compatible and they spend a lot of time together. They will play, but never fight. Sol and 'Kuna behave very differently, and usually have no time for each other. And, lately, 'Kuna is having to take a wide berth around Nibbs. I think she is finally fed up with him and takes a swipe (no claws) whenever he gets near.
'Kuna loves Wayne, loves men, loves bare feet on men. He likes to curl up on my lap, but turns himself inside out for attention from Wayne. So he is usually off by himself when Sol and Nibbs are curled up together. And Nibbs often grooms Sol when he asks for it!
Here's a photo of a typical evening with the three.
And this is the job that Nibbs is quite willing to take on...grooming a long-haired buddy...
And then they sleep...
 |
| Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 - 12:47 am: | |
Beautiful weather today. I walked around but didn't garden. Spent the afternoon painting in the carport! The weather all this week is supposed to be just wonderful with highs up to 22ºC (lucky Toronto gets 27ºC tomorrow). The sun just feels so good!
I've been accumulating plants that I'm going to have to get in the ground. Boni found a pink trillium for me, and a new heuchera, and I plan to plant tiger flowers again this year. And... I must figure out where I stored the begonia bulbs. I seem to misplace them every year (have even told family members where I'm putting them, hoping they will remember). But have treated myself to some new ones this year as well. Still have to paint the planter.
Every day the driveway and my car turn yellow from all the pollen in the air!
And suddenly it seems like there is so much to do! |
| Posted on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 09:03 pm: | |
And warm again today! Actually a high of 25ºC. Wayne's cutting the grass again... thank goodness he loves his lawn tractor! And soon we will have to work on the lawns a bit. They need top-dressing. Actually, it's been a little noisy in the neighbourhood with everyone out on their lawn tractors at the same time!!
I spent the day spring cleaning, and painting some more.
And the cats were busy with mice. Funny little things, though, the cats. It was almost like they were off to work and would catch them and bring this up to the house for us to see.. and this to dispose. I have been worried that Sol would eat one and be sick, but he seems to understand that he can't. 'Kuna brought a snake up, unharmed, so Wayne packed it out to the compost. (They haven't killed a snake yet.)
So, they've all had supper and are 'sacked out' now. (Sort of how I feel, and there's still supper to make!)
Pollen continues to be a problem. I think the last coat of paint on the baby furniture will have to be done in the house!
Ooops... no sound of lawn tractor. Guess I'd better put my thinking cap on and figure out what to fed us. (I usually plan ahead, but today just went so fast!!) |
| Posted on Thursday, April 21, 2005 - 11:33 pm: | |
I have clematis blooms and will soon have iris blooms. It is incredibly warm. Am off to Victoria tomorrow, but no time for nurseries. Perhaps next time. I'm lagging behind a bit on gardening. Don't know where the time is going, although I've certainly got lots of time to get the garden in shape. Still don't have potatoes planted, or the sweet peas! Must make a point of working on it when I get home. Can just imagine the sore muscles... but feeling good when it's done! |
