Spring Signs in My World

I always look for the crocuses. These adorned our walking path along the Avon River in Stratford a couple of weeks ago. Out of all that blah comes LIFE!

This lovely black swan is housecleaning, totally oblivious to my camera.

A goose? Whatever, it's nesting and wouldn't let us get too close. Good job.

All the river birds were in pairs. That green head is just so striking.

And the runners, too, were trying out their spring shoes all along the lovely shore.

Here my friends and I were attending another Spring ritual--the annual spring luncheon of the Women's Canadian Club of London. We were delighted to hear Margaret Trudeau speak about her new book and her life.

Here she is signing my sister's copy of Changing My Mind. Love the title.

And, finally, the pride of the Avon sailing along in pristine glory.

Spring is here. At last.

Bits of My Life

The last ten days has been interesting. Of course my new iPad has been taking up my time. I've still got a lot of learning to do. Here it is with my tv adapter. Haven't got that little beauty out of the package yet. So much to learn.

And then there's the impending visit of our granddaughter and our preparations for said visit. Here we have another new purchase--a stool for Chelsea (and Ben) to use. We already had the potty seat.

Ron is happy to have a new vacuum cleaner. With this one he doesn't have to crawl around on the bedroom carpet with the hand tool in order to clean. This model actually works the way it is supposed to. And it didn't cost a mint! All good.

Oh, and one other bit. This morning I finished yet another version of my novel in preparation for the final final really final copy. Just have to do a final read through of the printed copy to check yet again. This writing is a lot of work, but I love it.

Webster's and Tew's Falls

Sunday we had planned to stay home all day but by 10:00 a.m. Ron was ready to follow the sun. We went along Highway 5 to Webster's Falls. Here Ron is posing before a stripped tree limb which overhangs the lookout at Tew's Falls.

I tried the same pose but he's a little taller.

I looked down in the gorge and saw lots of tired winter snow which had not melted yet.

Ah, the waterfall. Flowing fast and ferocious, it made a lovely insistent roaring noise which we don't hear on our summer visits.

I liked this shot of the water slicing out its own design in the gorge below.

Here is Ron posing on the newly renovated stone bridge upstream from Webster's Falls. I am glad this wonderful old site is being maintained so well.

The water slices down the stream and hurtles over the falls, a thrilling sight in spring.

Below, the water boils and stews before rushing further downstream.

On warmer days we have sat on the grass nibbling picnic foods with family. Today we settled for a picture of Ron in front of the explanatory sign.

What a lovely way to spend an hour on a sunny spring day. Just look at this one last shot of the waters running for the drop.


Webster's Falls and Tew's Falls

Opening Doors at the Soccer Pitch

On February first of this year I started walking regularly at our new soccer facility. While I was in Mexico experiencing Montezuma's Revenge, my husband signed up for a four-month walking pass at the soccer club near us. Well, it seemed funny to me to pay for somewhere to walk--what's wrong with outside?--but I figured I'd try it out.

Since then we have walked every day but three, even mall walking in Victoria when the streets were thick with ice. We have spurred each other through those 'don't feel like it' times and the results are surprising.

We have more energy. We are excited to start our day and accomplish much more than normal.

My writing is flourishing, my husband's various projects are getting done. I am making lists and actually crossing things off. And all due to regular, stress regular, exercise.

Here is a picture of the excellent track where we walk.


And there is almost always something interesting going on below. Soccer games using the full space, soccer-by-age using smaller fields, regular football where people have rented out the space and even rugby games.

The track is always clean, well-marked and airy as huge machines seem to exchange the air constantly. No problem of lack of ventilation chasing us walkers out.

Finally, designers put windows upstairs so that when we are walking we can see the bright sunny day, the lovely homes nearby, the purple and green playground equipment edging the outdoor soccer fields. I really look forward to my walk every day; in fact, I think it's time right now. Care to join?

Beaching in Victoria in February

Last week we got back from a two-week stay with our daughter and her family. Here are some of the pics from a cloudy, cool day when we were pushing the beach season. Grandpa has had many sand-castle building years to prepare for his role with his granddaughter. Here they are just getting started. Before long we had trenches winding over twenty feet. Chelsea loved them.



While they were building I turned my attention to the many others sharing the beach space that day. This couple were mixing dog-walking and coffee drinking. Looked good.


There was a sailing class in the bay, each boat doing its turns, heedless of the cloudy skies.


Yet another dog person had a thrower for tossing the balls to his two dogs. The dogs got lots of exercise. He was pretty laid back, ambling along in front of my lens.

I turned back to the builders and got this long shot.


We all went home happy that we had done the first rite of summer even though the actual season is far off in Australia or some place. Certainly not in Victoria this year.

I See Green!

Oh, how I wish that meant money, but no, it's grass. Look at the way the snow has receded.

And here you can see the rest of the complex today whereas two weeks ago

you couldn't. Also the snow is dirty above and clean below--fresh versus stale snow. I hate the look of old snow but am glad to see it melting. Today the temp is going to be around 8 above (Celsius). By tonight a lot more of this pile will be gone.

Time for spring housecleaning.

Cancun's Dreams Riviera Hotel

Some of you may know that I won a trip to Mexico through East Side Mario's contest almost a year ago now. Well last week I finally got to take it, along with my sister. Here is a shot of hotel employees setting up near the beach for one of the many weddings which are held here each week. The wind was a bit of a problem this week but the beauty held.

Our room was gorgeous and comfortable with its marble bathroom, complete with Jacuzzi tub and walk-in shower, double sinks and lots of counter/cupboard space for the two of us.

At night the beds were turned down, side curtains hung and a bottle of cold water plus chocolates put out for us. Nobody does that at home!

Standing on our porch we could see the plunge pools which units on the first floor had. Nice idea but I never saw anyone use them the whole week. Not warm enough, I guess.

Looking the other way from our balcony the ocean was in the distance as was the hot tub. Sadly the hot tub was at best lukewarm. Not much point in going in.

Huts on the beach were plentiful and we claimed a spot every day for at least a few hours. Such a lovely place to read and dream.

The food was dispensed at this all-inclusive resort via many small restaurants. Our favorite was this one which overlooked the swim up infinity pool and the ocean. The seafood was excellent in this restaurant.

Beside the pools there were many cabanas with large mattresses, filmy white curtains and thatched roofs to keep the sun off. We claimed one on our last afternoon there and found the Internet connection better than in the room. Joyce got her family on the screen and then walked around to show them the whole area. Pretty neat use of a computer.

From the huge main hall we walked toward the beach along a stunning boardwalk with shops and lovely shady sitting areas lining it.

The view of the outside entrance is not ostentatious at all, a surprise although I never left the compound the whole week we were there so it didn't really matter.

Here is Joyce inside the huge welcome building posing for me. There is a bar on the left--free drinks whenever, whatever.

This was a six-star hotel and we loved it. I only wished that our husbands could have been there with us. Maybe another time.

What to do in Winter

On Saturday last a number of horse people (their major hobby is horses) and a lot of horse lovers got together for the annual sleigh ride afternoon at my brother's farm. A biting wind this year kept the numbers down a bit but the effort was well worth while for those who made it.

Here Steve waits while my grandson (two years old) and his entourage climb on for the next ride:



A number of the nannies that look after my son's boy and other children in his neighborhood went along for the ride. And they loved it. Most are from the Phillipines so are not used to this cold but we gave them a taste of Ontario's winter and a wonderful thing to do out in the cold.

Back at the drive barn after the ride people ate and drank hot drinks, all provided on a bring-your-own-and-share basis. Warmth was more important than fashion that day as my sister showed with this hat which was my father's many long years ago.


Other favorite pastimes during our Canadian winter are fixing up the house, the basement or the garage or working on hobbies. Here Ron has just completed building a kit in which to store his tools and bits and pieces of fix-it things. He is a happy camper.



Of course the question is, will he keep it all neat and tidy once he is finished the new storage place? Oh, well. That brings to mind another winter job for him.

Four Girls

I have three sisters about whom I've written before in this blog. Today I was skimming pictures on my computer and came across this one taken last October at a wedding. We try to get our picture taken together at every event we can.

With the youngest, Donna, being an actor/musician, getting together is less often than we'd all like. She was in Regina for almost three months on her last gig and I missed her.

Linda--she's not sleeping, honest!--is also a musician and performs when she can take time out from her private teaching. She is also in love with their sons, their farm and their horses.

Joyce is closest to my age but still much younger although I always introduce her as my older sister. She is a nurse and the mother of four, with the youngest now in Grade Ten.

And that leaves me, the oldest and best, I tell them. My greatest success in my life is my two children but I am also happy to have been a teacher of French, English and Computers over my high school teaching career. And equally happy to be finished with that, retired and writing my historical novel.

We are all happily married and in love with life. I celebrate my times with my sisters, each of whom I can always count on. How lucky am I!

Post Christmas Blues?

No way! I have post Christmas reds and yellows and oranges. Reds because red is such a vibrant meaningful colour. It never takes a back seat. All the other colours have to go with red. It just doesn't give an inch, does it?

And yellow because every day the sun streaks into my window and I have to tone it down with my blinds or I can't see my computer screen. Yet on grey days I really miss my yellow friend. I struggle to keep my spirits up.

Orange in January? Well, this is the season of Florida oranges and we buy a box every few weeks for my husband to make fresh-squeezed orange juice in the mornings. The succulent drip of juice floating by my taste buds on its way to my stomach is a winter delight I love every year at this time.

I don't write out resolutions, because I've lived long enough to know how disappointing their non-accomplishment is. Better to just set little goals, happy goals, goals which are joyful to complete. Then, if there are some less interesting or exciting things I have to do, they just get done without a lot of fanfare. Of course today I am really proud of getting back to my writing after a Christmas away celebrating (and slacking off.)

And I am glad I took these pictures of the tiny toy bench we gave Ben for Christmas because the decals lasted about one day. Now they are all gone, his parents tell us. Oh, well. Here is what it looked like when we gave it to him.



I made tiny mittens for both my grandchildren but think I got more out of it than they did. The story book I wrote for them was better received and Grandpa and I had such fun taking the pictures and puttting them into the software. I should have ordered a copy for myself as I ordered two and gave one to Ben and one to Chelsea. Nevertheless, here is the cover.


The story is about our big bear which both of our grandchildren love and our search to find it. I think that was my most favorite gift to give this year, although I surprised Ron with a couple of neat things.

So the final word is, I have no post Christmas Blues. The new year is looking bright and sunny.

Images of Christmas at Our House

It's Christmas. That hap-happiest time of the year. And I thought I'd show some shots of our house. Enjoy the glitz and glimmer, the shine and shimmer, the best of the season from our house to yours.











And, yes, although many will have a 'holiday' over this time, I'm still wishing one and all a Merry Christmas.