February in Victoria

This year, 2010, we were lucky enough to escape some of the Ontario cold winter, first with three weeks in Arizona in January and then three weeks in Victoria, BC, in February. During that time we spent 5 weeks with our granddaughter, loving every minute of it.

One day we took Chelsea to Butchart Gardens for yet another peak at picture perfect. Here Chelsea snapped this picture on my camera and it is just as good as the one I took. She is two and I am considerably older!

I managed to get Beth and Chelsea in a tender moment below: A picture is most definitely worth a thousand words.

In the Japanese Gardens this characteristic red bridge jumped out of the winter landscape and made up for the lack of flowers in this season.

Here Grandpa is helping his little sweetie down the steps. Not sure who was having more fun.

A little before her birthday we had to fly home so Chelsea got to open her gifts from us a little early. Predictably, the wrapping was quite a hit.

One day we took the car down to look over the Strait. As we sat in the car and relaxed, Ron had a wee nap while I watched for photo-worthy subjects. I found a few:

This is Mount Baker a sight we have rarely seen as often the mists obscure it. Such a treat.

These are some of the many kites we saw flying over the cliffs along the Strait. Aren't they joyous?

Someone here found a spot to think and to be the focus of my scenic shot.

So many of us look into the distance, hoping to see what we cannot see or find what is out there. Obviously the dog and its owner found different points of interest.

Often Victoria's splendor is dampened in February but not so this year. In three weeks we had only about 4 days that saw rain or clouds all day. The rest of the time was either sunny in the morning and right through or became sunny as the day aged. By the way, I took Chelsea to the park several times while there and one day saw a Chinese man unabashedly stepping through his tai chi exercises. Gotta love multiculturalism--another part of Victoria's beauty.

Budda Boom Budda Ching

Yesterday I went for lunch with my sister. We were a half hour late leaving (my fault) so decided to hit East Side Mario's in Woodstock instead of driving to a spot near London. As usual we had lots of laughs both together and with Michael, our favorite server. My sister had her lunch ticket completed with five initials so her lunch was free. Because the free lunch was only the smaller size, Michael brought Joyce a free salad of her choice. And he brought the loaf fresh from the oven so I munched while anticipating my own meal. Joyce finished her salad before Mike came by the table to tell us that our meals would be late as the order got lost. No problem, we were having a good time catching up together. Oh, and by the way, we would get our choice of dessert free because of the wait.
Our meals came, we ate and talked some more, our dessert came--funnel cake with cinnamon, ice cream and sauces (so yummy)--and finally our lunch wound down to getting the bill. "Keep the change," I told Michael as did Joyce with her bill. A few minutes later our server reappeared at our table accompanied by three more employees. Michael put a cash register receipt in front of me and told me I had won a trip.
"Sure, sure. You're just having fun with me," and laughed so loud the few patrons left at this late lunch time all looked over.
"No, you've won!" "It's true!" "It's no joke." The four employees chorused.
Finally I believed them. I had won a trip for two to either Mexico or Dominican Republic! My choice and so far I haven't made it.
When I got home Ron didn't believe me until I forced him to really read the bill I held in front of him. So that was my lucky day. We went right out and bought a lottery ticket.

For the list of winners check out this link: ESM contest

I'm Back...and I've Got Stuff!

Today is such a wonderful day that I just have to write about it. While making a pie shell for lemon pie this morning--my guy's favorite--I put on my new CD. Susan Boyle's I Dreamed a Dream grabbed me with the first song--"Wild horses couldn't drag me away." Exactly what I was feeling. Then came "I Dreamed a Dream" which was Boyle's leap into YouTube stardom as she competed in front of Simon Cowell and the world. The words fit her exactly.

I heard "Cry Me a River", an oldie but goodie, "How Great Thou Art" (chorus only arrangement), before something I didn't know began to play. I had to look. Stopped the pie crust, washed my hands and opened the case folder to find "You'll See." After the words for each song Susan's handwritten notes give her connection with each song. Such a personal yet stunning idea for the CD. I wonder whose it was.

Susan sings on with "Daydream Believer," "Up to the Mountain," "Amazing Grace", "Who I Was Born to Be," and "Proud." All are songs for the soul and spoke to me. I barely got the pie shell out of the oven, I was so entranced. I turned the volume to loud and raced for my computer to write about Susan. The final song is "Silent Night," a unique addition to a non-holiday CD but her voice soared to perfection with this carol. I hope Susan makes many more CD's. I'll buy every one. Right now, I'm going to add this CD to my iTunes list on my desktop. Oh, and I'll be visiting MusicNotes.com to get some of the sheet music if they have it.

By the way, my own stuff is that I finally finished the novel and am now into the agent process. Susan is with me on that journey, as well.