Wednesday, June 29, 2011 It's me birthday

Yes, today is my birthday and I can't remember why I used to be so excited when I was little when this day rolled around. Really.....all this fuss because you are getting older. Maybe it's because you also get wiser with age. Not everyone, but most people do. Some people actually lose brain cells I think. Not me though. I'm much smarter than when I was younger. Although my day was quiet and we didn't do much, I  really found it nice to just sit and enjoy . When Hank phoned to see about supper he said he had something left over from yesterday and not make him anything. He  had apparently bought a hero sandwich and had half left for tonight. I didn't check what it looked like so when he pulled it out of the fridge and brought it in the front room, I didn't know how he could possibly eat it all. I can't even imagine what the sandwich looked like when he had both halves. It was massive. He has big hands and it made them look small. I had to have a picture of the it. It was almost obscene as far as the size goes. It looks like his Hero was his hero. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and bon appetit.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011 Getting ready for the Mardi Gras party

This was one busy day. We were all going to spend it in the States but Monica couldn't get off work until 11:00 so Melissa and I went to Aldergrove to wait for her to get off work. While we waited we found a little thrift store and as we browsed and hunted for hidden treasures, time got a way from us and then my phone rang. It was Monica and she had been home for ten minutes. We gathered up our few items, vowing to return and spend lots of time there, and headed for the door. We got lost looking for the border crossing. I don't understand it cause Susie and I ended up there on more than one occasion while looking for scrap book stores. We didn't want to be at the border but somehow we always ended up there. Now, when we wanted to be there, we couldn't find it. Finally we put the coordinates into Lissa's IPhone and ta da......we were there. We really did shop til we dropped. Stuff for Mardi Gras. Beads, masks, decorations, table cloths and all the stuff we absolutely had to have. When we got home we started making  masks and adorning the ones that were already made but needed some extra bling, While we were all sitting at the table Hank came up with these two puppets. He must have been cleaning out the store room. Melissa and Lurline made them years ago. I always loved them. They are just the neatest puppets. The stuffing has shifted but they are still cute. Monica and Jack were playing with them at the kitchen table when I snapped this picture. The girls gave the puppets to me a long time ago when I was doing day care. I still had them stuck in a box in the basement but maybe now I need to get rid. I thought maybe the Jim Henson group might be looking for understudies for Ernie and Bert. Just a suggestion. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and I'm hoping for great weather for Saturday.

Monday, June27, The rose

Lurline, Melissa and I enjoyed starting our day with a nice long soak in the hot tub. The rest of the day was spent just lazing around while Lurline gave herself a mani-pedi on the back deck. They tootled off to Vancouver in the late afternoon to pick up Talia from the ferries and spend some time with their relatives out there. Lissa and I decided we needed to find out what we still had to do to get ready for the upcoming party on Saturday. We are planning to set aside some time for Karaoke outside in the gazebo. It better be a nice day or our plans will fall through. Bringing out a big screen t.v. is no easy task. Then we sorted out some prizes and spent a couple of hours cataloging
our song collection. By the time we finished it was dark and we realized we didn't have a picture for today's blog. We dashed outside and took some various pictures in the garden. This was the only one that turned out good enough to use. Having company is grrrrrrreat, but plays havoc with one's routine. Tomorrow I will put a little more effort into finding my subject. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye.

Sunday, June 26, 2011 The band

Today we got up to sunshine again. Whew.....I thought we had our one day of sunshine yesterday and that was going to be it for the week. I think we are averaging one day a week, maybe two if we are really lucky. We had a big breakfast then discussed what our day would look like. Hank and Jacob wanted to get in a round of golf and then maybe the car show in town. The rest of us opted for the Cloverdale Flea Market, seeing as how Lur and Dave had to head out that way to take Talia to the ferry to go to Victoria to see her bestie. So we wandered around the tables looking for something that, again, we just had to have. We all made purchases. Monica bought a bread maker, Talia and Melissa bought covers for their IPhones, Dave bought himself a much needed hat, Lurline got herself some snazzy nail polish and I got a steal when I purchased a pottery candle holder for outside that cost me three bucks. Yep....you read that right....three measly dollars. I think maybe Tristan was the only one that didn't open his wallet. After arriving home we enjoyed some sunshine with Jacob and Hank by the pond then after supper it was guitar time. So Melissa, Hank and Jacob are downstairs as I type, singing and a strummin'. I'm patiently waiting for Lurline, Dave and Tristan to come home and listening to the long range forecast and hoping rain is not mentioned for next weekend. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and whoever did the sun dance....please continue for the rest of the week.

Saturday, June 25, 2011 The garden tour

Today is the garden tour. We're almost ready for it. Hank was up bright and early still trying to get more bark mulch on the beds and none of us got to bed until well after 2:30 a.m after Lur, Dave, Tristan, Talia and Melissa arrived. I have a full house and a busy day. We planned our day to include Hank, Lur, Melissa and myself going to see the other gardens on the tour. I must say, I don't know who won the People's Choice Award but it couldn't have been an easy chore to choose one. They all had their high points and were equally lovely. This garden was out near Rosedale and this little scene was set up in the corner and I loved it. I took so many pictures that I really didn't know which one to use. This one was the winner. It has that nostalgic feel to it and I remember using a washing machine just like that when we got married. Things were winding down when we arrived back home and one of the people looking after the garden tour gave me a business card and told us that a lady is interested in our garden and we are going to end up in Gardens West magazine. I'm so excited. Just have to see what she says when she phones.   Lucy, Mark and mom were in the back yard and for the next few hours we passed the time chatting about this and that. Before they all left everyone got a turn on the Hank's new scooter. That was good for at least half an hour's entertainment. After dinner we all did the Karaoke thing. It's fun at the best of times but once you put Dave and Melissa in the mix you know it's going downhill from there. My special treat for the night was to hear to my grandchildren sing. They both sang, not with each other, and sounded awesome. Gardens West.......unbelievable!! I'm still in shock. Hope it all comes to fruition. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and great gardening.

Friday, June 24 2011 The visitor

I'm trying to catch up on my daily blog and didn't realize how hard that is when you get visitors. You want to spend time visiting and the blog is set aside. Thursday night Jacob arrived. We knew he was coming for a school reunion, but we both assumed it would be  tonight. I did think it was strange that he wasn't going to be here for Hank's music night. Hank loves having him here and I think Jacob enjoys it too. It was so good to see him arrive on jam  night. It's usually a catch up time when Hank's brothers come to visit. He loves it. I enjoy having them here too even though I usually don't see them much. So Hank took the day off work so he and Jacob could spend today together. They decided to go golfing even though the weather was iffy at best. Jacob seemed to think the weather was going to pick up and even took shorts along in hopes sun would eventually show up. I thought it overly optimistic and maybe even, in his words, foolhardy. But although it drizzled, no heavy rain made an appearance and they seemed to have had a really good time. This evening, they decided to enjoy a few games of chess outside in the gazebo with a few glasses of wine and each others company. I got a text from Melissa saying they were just 15 minutes out of Kamloops so I will try to stay up and welcome them. I'm figuring about 1:30 or 2:00 a.m. should see them arrive and ready to get a few hours sleep. I can hardly wait to see my grandkids. I'm missing way too much of their growing up. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye.

Thursday, June 23, 2011 The cleaning of the chandelier.

Today I got up early in hopes of getting some stuff done before weekend. Somewhere along the line I got sidetracked. I decided to clean my chandelier. Have you ever wanted something that you knew, way down deep, would enhance your life and give you unending joy every time you looked at it? Well that was the reasoning behind my purchase of the chandelier. I loved it. I'm simple that way, loving shiny, twinkling things. When the light hits it just right, it causes prisms of light in my kitchen. That hasn't happened for a while now. I knew what the problem was but kept ignoring it. The whole thing needed a good clean. Today I tackled that job and wondered to myself what possessed me to buy it.  It's not an easy job. Each bauble and crystal has to be painstakingly removed from the fixture and washed by hand. I didn't have to worry about it slipping out of my hand as it was so sticky from dirt build up, you would have thought it was covered with glue. Don't get me wrong.....it's only been a year or less since I last washed it. It might be a lot longer after today's fiasco. It took forever to take everything off and wash it. The cloth kept getting hooked up on the little jump rings that hold it all together. It looks pretty , all twinkly and shiny. I guess it was worth it. So that's done and now I'll have time in the morning to actually do something productive. So until then I bid you good bye and a happy tgif for tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 A delicious cup of coffee.

Have you ever thought back to your childhood and remembered that wonderful aroma of coffee brewing in the morning? I have. I never smell that anymore. To me drip coffee doesn't taste like the coffee I remember. I loved that smell. I loved the sound of the water  bubbling up and over the beans as the percolator started out slowly and then picked up speed.  Maxwell House had a commercial in the 1960's that says it all.  The aroma getting stronger as the coffee got darker. We went to the flea market on the weekend and Hank has mentioned to me that he would like perked coffee instead of drip. I was on the look out for the old Corningware coffee pots. They are few and far between and usually a tad expensive as they are considered collectibles. I picked one up for a friend a few weeks ago at another flea market. Hers has the original blue design on it and smaller than the one I picked up. She seemed happy with it and had been looking for quite some time for one. When I spied this one I knew we had to have it. She was asking ten dollars for it but I got it for eight. We bought some beans, after a futile search for course grind coffee turned up nothing. We grind our own beans and make a nice pot of coffee every night. It really does taste so much better than drip. My memories of the taste were right. It's awesome!! You really must try it. If you want to see the Maxwell House coffee ad and hear the coffee perking go to this link:  http://www.classictvads.com/drink_2.shtml   and go down the page to the coffee pot. Ahhh...smell it!! So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and hope you get a chance to stop and smell the coffee.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011 Catnip cat.

Summer Solstice....you did us proud!! Finally sunshine and wonderful warm weather. I had to rub my eyes to make sure I wasn't dreaming. I don't know what the temperature reached today but it was hot, not that I'm complaining, not even a little, just saying. Did a spot of painting outside and brought Tequila, Melissa's cat, inside with me. So here she is. Yep, the catnip that is hanging over her head has put her in a mellow mood. I'm thinking it must have the same affect on cats that weed has on humans. She just loves the stuff. Maybe if we took it away she would lose weight. They don't call her Chubbers for nothing.  I think she gets the munchies afterwards. I almost missed my picture today. I just happen to take this one this morning and it was a good thing I did. When I went outside to take one this evening, I got to talking to my guests and time ran away on me. We really chatted about a lot of things. They are repeat guests and are great to have here. So as the light faded and they sat on the deck having a cup of tea or coffee, I didn't notice that it was a little late to take the picture. Thank you Tequila for being the druggie that you are. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and hello sunshine.

Monday, June 20, 2011 The New Scooter

As I heard the alarm go off this morning, I noticed that it was ten minutes later than when hubby usually gets up. I think he had too much excitement yesterday with his new electric scooter. He was exhausted with joy, but he really needed the extra time to get the bike out of the back porch and figure out where his lunch kit was suppose to go. His lunch is a mini cooler so the only place to put it was between his feet on the floor of the scooter. So off he goes like a kid attending his first day of school. My day was very quiet and there was no hurry to get anything done. The sun finally came out late afternoon but at least it made a showing. I was beginning to think someone had kidnapped it and I for one was willing to pay the ransom. I managed to snap this picture as my smiling hubby came home from work. The scooter makes a little 'beep beep' when you put your signal on and that was the only way I knew he was entering the yard. It's way too quiet for my liking. Almost like a cat burglar. People would never hear it coming down the road behind them. I think he almost wiped out a whole family, parent and kids, that were walking on the bike path running beside the train tracks. He says there are seven people of these scooters lined up at work now. Seven people out of about thirty. Wow....it's going to be a gas saving summer. Well, he loves his, and that's all that counts. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and happy scooter riding.

Sunday, June19, 2011 Cactus Flower

Fathers Day!! We got up and Jack and Monica made us a fabulous breakfast for Father's Day. Scrambled eggs with peppers, bacon, steak and yummy potatoes. Definitely a two thumbs up meal. Off to the Cloverdale flea market to see what we absolutely couldn't live without and could haul home. Hank wanted to go and see some electric scooters anyway so this was one way to pass some time. We came away with a coffee percolator and some plants. We saw this gorgeous cacti with massive flowers and had to stop and ask about it. Apparently it blooms and then produces a fruit similar to kiwi. We had to have it. As we discussed the pros and cons of taking one home, a guy came and bought the only two yellow ones she had and the ones we had our eye on. She gave us the address of their greenhouses and we set off to find it. They had several of them for sale, along with numerous other exotic plants and in the end we settled for the pink. It's so beautiful. We have to see if we can keep it alive long enough to see it bear the fruit. If we are successful with it we might even buy another one next year. I'm dying to see and taste this kiwi like food. We did get a scooter for Hank. Almost new and cute as a bugs ear. I will probably post a picture of it tomorrow. Right now we have it in the back of the van and we are awaiting Jack's return to help Hank dislodge it from the rear of the vehicle. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and hope all those dads out there had a terrific day, I know Hank did.

Saturday, June 18, 2011 Kabobs

Lurline and Melissa left for Calgary today but will return in one week.A last minute decision for Melissa. She will only be gone a few days and then back to help with party plans for the following weekend,.  It should give me some time to sort out my scraproom Maybe if I get it straightened out I will make it one of my pictures of the day. So another overcast day  and we actually got rain. Hank likes the rain, he doesn't have to water all his plants when we have showers. Me....not so much. I would love to pull out the hose and water something because it's too dry. So far this year that hasn't happened. Jack and Mo decided to stay over one more night and when the rain let up I went outside to help Hank deadhead some of the plants. We all agreed that Jack didn't know a weed from a plant so really couldn't help much outside so he was going to make dinner. He really is an awesome cook. He made us kabobs, some with beef and some with chicken. They were  yummy. We had a delish salad that Monica threw together and after dinner watched some t.v. I'm getting a little tired and I'm really thinking of getting to bed early, maybe when I am finished with the blog. Promises of sun tomorrow. Yippee. Hank says sun all week. Really?? I will believe it when I see it. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and hope everyone is appreciating their dads this weekend.

Friday, June 17, 2011 Clayburn for scones.

Watching tv this morning I noticed they had sunshine in Vancouver. Where was ours??? Hello...sunshine....over here. I guess we don't rate a ray. Apparently there was sun as far as Abbotsford then cloud east of there. So Chilliwack was under a big blackish cloud. Why?? Why isn't it our turn for sun? We hung around the house until noon then Lurline decided a road trip to Clayburn for a yummy scone. Okay, I'm in. Grab the camera for our picture of the day. I love going to this tea shop but they aren't cheap. Lurline and Melissa ordered Earl Grey Tea and it was $3.95 per person. I didn't look to see what my tea cost me but it was over two dollars I'm sure. I thought I would have to mortgage my house when I looked at the prices on the menu. We only do this once every three or four years so that was okay. I always love all the neat old stuff they have inside and the candy counter with all the jars of  goodies. There are too many to chose just one kind. We skipped that part of the store and went outside to look around. This picture is the front of the tea/candy store. We meandered down one of the streets and took some photos of the little old school and I noticed a beautiful home with gorgeous gardens. It had a sign that informed people that it was a private residence so I assume people had maybe wandered in thinking it was open for the public. I can see how they might make that mistake. It was really something to behold. They had a Wisteria growing up an evergreen and the purple flowers hung down from the branches many feet up. I wanted to take some pictures but we gathered from the sign that they didn't like it when visitors stopped and stared at  their home and gardens. It must be a little invasive. Really, though, don't make it so appealing then. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and I'm sending good thoughts for sunshine at some point before next weekend.

Thursday, June 16, 2011 Salish Park

After going to sleep late last night as we watched in dismay and disgust all the riots going on in Vancouver, I got up early this morning to a loud bang. As it turned out, it was nothing. I don't know where it came from and thought maybe I dreamed it. So 5:30 a.m. and I'm awake. Turned on the t.v. to more of the same news that I went to sleep on. Riots, fires, looting and fighting. I can't even process it. What goes through someone's mind to make them think that it's okay to destroy someone else's property?  I sometimes think they mustn't own anything themselves because they would be totally choked if someone did that to their car or business. So the rioting along with the lack of sunshine again made me very sad today. Every now and then I would come in and listen to more about the after game. It's like I couldn't believe it and thought if I watched it long enough it would all make sense.. It doesn't. I'm hoping tomorrow will bring some sunshine and a brighter day all round. We three girls went for a little ride tonight to Island 22 to find a picture. The water was high and the mosquito count was too. We got back in the car and decided a walk around the Salish Park area would turn up a sight worthy of our picture of the day. The fountain is always inspiring. It reaches for the sky as if saying onward and upward. Ideal for me for today. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and I'm really hoping they find all the people that gave Vancouver a black eye last night, and I hope the justice system kicks their sorry asses.

Wednesday, June15, 2011 Iris

Bellingham was our destination today. We started off early and there was only a couple of cars going across so we were on our way pretty fast. Headed to Big Lots. Had a look around then off to pass some time until we were to meet Lucy/Betty for lunch. Shari's is usually our restaurant of choice while we are in Bellingham. Great food and good service. Had a lovely visit with Betty and then off to look for more treasures in a thrift store by Joannes. I found their prices a little high but we had fun. Stopped on our way out of town to look around Michaels before we high tailed it towards the border in hopes of getting home before the final game for the Stanley Cup. Made it home in time to see the last few minutes of the first period. Looks like we aren't taking home the cup this year but there's always another year. I'm not normally a hockey fan but I was disappointed just the same. Now as I sit here listening and watching the riots in Vancouver I just scratch my head and wonder why???? What is the point? Oh well, another year, another play for the cup. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and hope the people rioting get their asses thrown in jail. Just sayin'.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 Field of goats

Today was another so-so day. No sunshine but it wasn't pouring rain when I got up. For some reason my eldest decided getting up was something everyone has to do when she does. In the bedroom she comes, telling me it was time I was up and that half my day was over already. Wouldn't that make it noon or later??? I think so. Melissa and I went to do a little 'window shopping' in town and happened to spot a couple of real deals. When Hank phoned I told him what a great buy we saw and after picking me up after work we made a couple of purchases that would enhance the look of our yard. So far this year, the yard has been a huge expense. It's all good though, it's looking terrific. We went for a drive after supper and went down Evans on our way to the Heron sanctuary. We passed a field of goats, babies and all, grazing. When they saw us stop and Melissa got out, they all started to come over to see what was going on. This one wanted  to eat my camera. Is it not a funny picture? Some of the others were pretty amusing and I'm assuming they can be viewed on here somewhere. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye. Someone out there is not doing a sun dance. I better not find out who that is. We need sun, sun and more sun. Get on it people!!

Tuesday, June 13, 2011 View from afar

I think when we got up this morning we were just going to hang out at home and do nothing. It was rainy and miserable which really puts a damper , so to speak, on doing things. I was on msn to Susan, my bff, , when she asks if we were coming for coffee. Well, hell yes. So in the car we pile and off we go. She had just made cookies so we sat and did a catch up over the goodies and tea. I haven't talked to her for so long we had lots to talk about. She informed us she had bought a WII and wanted some input on how it worked with Dance, Dance Revolution. So off to the big tv and Susie showing us her moves. Lurline and Melissa had a try and I kept thinking that definitely doesn't look easy to me. I passed. As I looked out the window in her front room I noticed a little house waaaaay off in the distance. That had to be my picture for the day. It's not great. It was just too far for my camera to get a great shot. I've been posting my today pictures the next day as I sometimes haven't found time the same day to post. That's what happens when you have visitors and want to spend time with them. :) So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and happy trails.

Sunday, June12, 2011, The Light from Mars?

I know what you are thinking, what the heck is that? Well, it's one of the lights we bought at the garage sale this weekend. We think we have found the perfect place for them but is there really a perfect place for something that looks like it was beamed down from a UFO? After much discussion this was the best we could come up with for them. Hank is going to build some thing for them to sit on and I'm hoping we have lighting for the steps. We were like little bees today. So much to do and we got most of it done. I think  somebody must be doing the sun dance cause we actually had a nice day with the rays beating down while we gardened. Supper on the patio and a movie this evening was the perfect end to a hectic and tiring day. Everyone seems to be heading to bed for a well earned sleep and I'm thinking that's what I'm going to do. Another day like today would be perfect for Monday. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and sweet dreams.

Saturday, June 11, 2011 The Ramble

Woke up to overcast skies with promises of nicer weather later in the day. After a chat and a coffee with my eldest before she left for the day, we did a few garage sales. We didn't head out to do garage sales, we were going to pick up a few things and noticed a 10 house sale so stopped to see what they had. We came across two patio lights that were ultra modern and had come from a garden display. Originally they were very expensive but we got them for a steal. So they sit in our garden and look a little out of place but I like them.  Huge lights that look like they came from the set of Star Trek or something.  Tomorrrow's photo might be of them beaming Melissa up. At least they will be a conversation piece. Melissa and I then went on the Ryder Lake Ramble. I have been on it a few times but at least they had some different farms this time. Took this picture of one of the llamas that they had. We also saw a baby llama that was 24 hours old and trying to get the attention of the others, but everytime she came near them, they scattered. The morrow is suppose to bring us sun and warmth. Hope they are right and we see that great orange orb in the sky. So until tomorrow  I bid you good bye and happy rambling.

Friday, June10, 2011 Karaoke Night

Today we took mom to the doctor and then to lunch. Two hockey games ago mom sat in our front room and watched the Canucks vs Bruins, not because she wanted to, but because we were all watching it and she was here visiting. Every now and then she would make a comment...."that wasn't good" or "what happened there" . So she was getting involved to some point. Today she asked me how the last game went and Melissa and I told her we lost. She mumbled something about that not being good. As we sat waiting for our lunch she mentioned that one of the ladies at the home asked her to pray for us to win the next hockey game. She told them she would. Well, I was a little disbelieving but she reiterated that a prayer had been said asking for a win. So tonight we watched game 5 and guess what......oh yeah....we won. It never hurts to know people in high places. After the game we did some karaoke. It's always fabulous when the girls sing together. I loved it. This is a picture of Melissa trying to cover her mouth while she was singing so my picture wouldn't show her belting out a song. I took the picture anyway. So until tomorrow I bid you a good bye and a roaring " Woot woot, go Canucks go".

Thursday, June 9, 2011 Monica Lee

Today the weather was so-so. At least it wasn't raining so that was a plus. Lurline went off to her course in Surrey and Melissa decided to see what we could do in the yard. We moved some bark mulch and then went back inside. Our work was done. Well, it wasn't really but that's all we wanted to do today. Monica and Jack came over for supper and a visit, I must say the spaghetti sauce was awesome. We all went downstairs to listen to the jam night band. Lurline and Melissa played some songs, Gil played a few and of course Hank played his favs. I took a picture of Gil but it's a bit blurry so I used this picture of my beautiful daughter Monica. We came upstairs on our own and watched So You Think You Can Dance. I'm really hoping we can see a glimpse of sunshine before the weekend or on the weekend. Until tomorrow I bid you good bye and someone better be doing a sun dance besides me.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011 Huge hosta

Today  is the day Lurline will be arriving.  I'm excited but always worry when the girls drive alone from Calgary. We shopped for some last minute groceries and came home to make shrimp skewers with pineapple. Yes, it was yummy. After dinner we watched the game. Really? Really? I think I may be sorry I started this whole hockey watching lark. I find myself getting angry and it' s not a feeling I like. It's stressful. After the pathetic game I looked around for a picture. I took a couple of my cat but nothing jumped out at me. I went outside to see what was happening out there. I liked the Hosta. We have so many and only know the name of one of them. No, this is not the one I know the name of . I only know that the leaves are gynormous. Probably not a word but that's okay. The garden is really coming together. Just need to spread some bark mulch and few other odds and ends and we will be ready for the garden tour. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and I have a feeling, way down deep, that the Canucks will win the next game. C'mon Canucks, you can do it!!!!!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011 Night pond

Rain again today. Oh well, tomorrow is another day and hopefully a warm, sunny one. Awaited the arrival of Tourism Chilliwack to look at the rooms. After the customary ooooohs and aaaaaahs they left and I felt like my bed and breakfast was the best in town. We decided to wait until dark to take our daily picture. I wanted a shot of the yard  with all the lights on. A couple of days ago my camera started acting up, well it was more like a couple of months ago, but lately it has been worse. I snap the picture but nothing happens. So tonight after many frustrating tries I managed to get this one picture. It wasn't what I was looking for but I guess I should be grateful I got any picture. Yes, this is yet another picture of the pond area taken when the sun went down. Our waterfall developed a leak so we will have to take it all apart and start over again, hence, no water falling into the pond. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and sweet dreams.

Monday, June 6, 2011 Oh Mr. Moon

What another gorgeous day it is. Melissa made us special coffees, Peppermint lattes, and we were ready for a nice leisurely soak in the hot tub. She had to get ready to go to Vancouver for the night, so we didn't linger. Well, I'm sure it wasn't any longer than half an hour. Off she went and I painted. Just finishing off some stuff that had been started. When Hank came home we decided to watch the hockey game. I don't know why I let Melissa get me started on hockey. My life was pretty complete without it. Now I'm hooked and after watching the game tonight I thought the Canucks would have done just as well if they had all stayed home and just let Boston play on the ice on their own. If it wasn't for the fights I would have had a hard time calling it a hockey game. I'm sure we will make a come back next game, and if not next game, then back in Vancouver. I shouldn't be that sure because I certainly wouldn't bet money on it. More hoping than anything. After the game I went out for my picture of the day. I wanted to stay and listen to what they said about the game, and  how it all went terribly wrong, but it would have been like watching a train wreck. I couldn't do it. So this is the top of a tree in my back yard and the moon showing us her best side. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and a small, very small, go Canucks go.

Sunday, June 5, 2011 Stellar jay

Another day of wonderful, warm, welcome, sunshine. I just can't sleep when the sun is shining like that. So today we were like the seven dwarfs, except there were only three of us. Work, work, work. I  cleaned the Cottage and Melissa and Hank stained the deck outside and did various other jobs. Melissa took a nice nap on the swing by the new pond, lulled to sleep by the mini waterfall. I opted for the indoors but still could hear the splash of the water and the birds. We decided it was picture time and after trying to coax birds into the yard we decided to just wait them out. If we just sat and waited I'm sure they would come and a picture could be taken that would rival Robert Bateman . Well, it didn't turn out that way. I got one quick snap of this Stellar Jay and even that was really pushing the envelope as far as good photography went. He didn't hang around long before he headed for the wild blue yonder. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and happy bird watching. Happy birthday to my friend and sister in law, Anne. Hope she had an awesome day.

Saturday, June 4, 2011 A visit from Neil and Debbie

Today we had glorious sunny weather again. I'm feeling spoiled. We galavanted about the town shopping for groceries and other odds and ends and then home again to do a little around the yard. I made some snacks for the hockey game and we awaited Neil and Debbie's arrival with grandma. We sat and got ourselves fully engrossed in the game with grandma putting a little word in now and then. She was almost giddy when they scored and had a few things to say when she couldn't figure out what was happening on the ice. After the awesome win by the Canuck's we all went to sit outside and chit chat. I love chit chat. People sometimes say things that are totally unexpected. This time it was grandma. As Debbie picked up a snail on my deck and we exchanged stories of snails, grandma had one of her own. She related to us the time she lived in Yarrow and found a bunch of them. She thought they would look nice around the dirt inside her plant pots in the house. So she arranged them all around the outside of the inside of the pots and when she got up the next morning was surprised to find them all gone. They apparently hadn't gone far, one on the wall, one on the couch.......well you get the idea. No, I have no idea why she thought they would stay there. She said she thought they were empty. So that was my chuckle for the day. We took some pictures outside and Neil and Debbie were nice enough to pose for a couple. What a great couple they make. Loved visiting with them and wished they could stay longer. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and as a wise old woman taught us, don't collect snails for your plant pots.

Friday, June 3, 2011 Finally found the turtles!

Today was beautiful outside and Melissa and I set about painting yet another shed. I had started it but Melissa definitely did the bulk of the painting today. There must have been a bee's nest inside because a couple of them were really agitated  that we were there. We finished up there and a few other things around the yard before supper. Hank, Lissa and I were sitting on the swing admiring the pond and the fact that we just bought some gold fish for it, when my guest came around the side of the house looking for us. They were early but we got them checked in and discovered they were from Gibsons. I had to tell them about my niece living there and where her store was. They, in turn, told me how pretty our town was and how lovely the Cottage was. Melissa and still needed our daily picture so off we went to Sardis Park in search of the ever elusive turtles that Melissa kept saying she saw there. I knew there were some turtles over there but every time we went to find them,  they were no place to be found. Today we were in luck. There they were, all sunning themselves, lying on a log and the far end of the park. I hadn't brought my lens with me for a good shot of them far away so this is what I got. I haven't seen Melissa's pictures yet but she took a number of them and had her long lens on so I'm sure they will be fabulous. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye and wish my sister a happy anniversary.

Thursday, June 2, 2011 Drive up Promontory

Today was shopping day. Groceries to buy and a camera to mail back to Canon for repairs. After a short visit from Susan we headed for Staples and then Super Store. We whipped around there and off to the Health Food store to buy star anise. I don't know why you can't buy it in the grocery store but apparently you can't. I really needed it for chicken noodle soup that I want to make shortly, as in, before my eldest daughter arrives this month. After supper we really wanted to get our daily picture and in case you live on another planet and haven't realized it yet, we only get a t.v. full of reruns now until fall, so we decided to take a little ride to see what we could see. We went up on Promontory. I haven't been up there for ages. I can't believe the development. It's a maze. We could not find our way around and wanted to get to some houses we knew were on the hillside. It was bizarre.. We could see them but couldn't get to them. Dead end after dead end. I thought we could be lost up there for months and no one would know how to find us. We finally came upon some lots that were to have houses built on them in in the very near future. Got a few snaps of the valley facing north. As usual the weather is overcast but this was the best I could do in the rain. I think that if I had a high powered lens I could probably have taken a shot of our house. So until tomorrow I bid you good bye. Let's all do a little sun dance tonight before we go to bed.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 Time in a garden

If only it had the right time on it. It is right twice a day but that's about all. Lovely though, isn't it? It looks almost to fancy for my rose garden. I really like it even though it's just ornamental. We bought it a few years ago and when Hank wanted to get rid I vetoed the idea. So today I took some pictures  of various flowers but really???? more flowers??? Nope, I just wasn't go to do it today. I also took a picture of another bird house but after yesterday's picture I just didn't want to use it. Hank did build a really nice gazebo out back by the Cottage. It will be perfect for our guests this summer, if we ever get summer that is. He no sooner had the roof on it than a robin had built a nest on part of the boards across the top. I'm sure it was no more than 24 hours and she was moved in and preggers. For a minute I thought she had brought in the team from Extreme Makeover, that's how fast she built it. So tonight I went to see if I could take a picture of her in her nest. She doesn't seem to care if we are there. I just couldn't get a good enough shot . I might try again later on, but for now she's safe from the paparazzi. So I leave you with the Clock in the garden. Maybe one day it will magically start to run again. I can hope, right?  I bid you good bye until tomorrow when I search for another picture and another story.