end of May

Our most favourite tulip tree.



The garden gate.



This is the first year we have seen this clematis flower.

16 is a good number

It is my anniversary today. 16 years of marriage. My husband is my best friend. I find it hard to remember my life when he was not present. We have lived through many joys and struggles. But, we understand that traveling the journey with someone else is a gift and we are thankful for each other.

We tossed about ideas of how to celebrate. In the end we opted to have a BBQ on our deck with our 14 year olds - a family dinner of sorts - in one of our favourite places with our favourite people.

What shall we have for dessert?

cooking light*

I read a recipe for blueberry cornmeal muffins. I thought they sounded like a good idea. I made them tonight.

They were duds.

More like a cupcake than a muffin. Maybe not enough cornmeal.

They came from Cooking Light Jan/ Feb 2000.

They did not rise.

They did not taste awful; just not what I was expecting.

six things

1. it is raining - but they say it is short lived and so I am glad for the gardens
2. my manager is back from south america today
   
3. there is enough left over pizza for another dinner meal
4. I had a lovely visit with my middle sister yesterday
5. My daughter has been registered for dance next year
6. I need a haircut
   

weekend recap

Finally we experienced several days of absolutely spectacular weather. We sat on our deck and enjoyed some fine Hester Creek Cabernet Franc - it wasn't that exact bottle but 2003 from one of our summer trips - I found it in our closet/ pantry under the stairs. Our socializing was kept to a minimum. While we enjoy our friends and we love and need the interaction, we also recognized the need to reconnect ourselves. So, are a rough start Saturday morning the evening was restful and warm enough that we stayed out doors until after dark.

Sunday - Liturgy. Lots of guests. Visiting in the sunshine. Thankful for my community and the life sustaining words of my priest. A reminder that Sunday is the first day of the week and that we can all start anew. Again, good words for me particularly. I needed to hear the chance to start over.

The afternoon was spent finishing up the apple tree. It is almost pruned. The birds can fly through now. The lawn was cut. The lavender planted. The Pinot Gris was poured for the first time. We used the grill basket and we feasted on Thai salad w/ roasted asparagus.

Two more weeks of school.

my mother's hands and other random bits

I have my mother's hands. Wrinkly. I was looking at them the other day and was amazed to see how much they reminded my of my mum.



We moved our copper beech tree. It is much happier in its new location but it has been attacked by meely bugs (we think) - little white fuzzy bugs that are attached to the underside of the leaves and can be seen buzzing around the tree.



Our tomatoes are doing quite well.



We bought a grill basket and used it for the first time. This is way easier than doing skewered veggies. We shall be eating a ton of grilled vegetables this summer.

7:52am

sunshine 

laundry

dinner plans

salmon, tiny potatoes, asparagus

dance

bathroom cleaned

museli

cropped pants

thread 

jacket

grad

busy

running around on my lunch hour

tomorrow will be better

don't wish the day away

water the flowers

bottle depot

to be continued....

victoria day

The plan for today goes something like this:  

I need to take in and hem Mr. W's new khaki pants for grad on Friday.  I want to finish planting everything we bought on Saturday.  I want to sketch out the garden plan and name all the plants in the book so I can remove the tags from the pots.  I, still need to work on my parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme herb pot.  My rosemary did not survive the winter.  

Juice,  we are a juiceless household.  We have been juiceless for weeks.  Just have water.  No, milk either.  Goat's Milk is what we drink and the shop was out of stock.  So, need to buy milk too.  Pretty difficult to enjoy cereal with water.   My daughter would like to wear dresses this summer.  We have fabric and patterns - just need to find - make the time to sew. 

I am inspired by bloggers who sew.  Get moving.  I would like to crack open a novel and start reading.  I will skip the parade.  Yesterday we had some lovely, warm sunshine.  And a fantastic dinner with good friends.   There is laundry to be done.  

burnt rice

oh man.

it was a good one
burnt into a complete solid
smoke filled rooms
blame
couldn't you smell it
didn't you ever burn anything before
you don't know how tired I am
sorry.

today

one day left of work
busy
tired
missing things
books and papers scattered
coffee
it is raining
tomorrow there should be sunshine
cold
grey
quiet
music
battleground
regroup
family prayers
fishing tackle
journey
tests

monday

• LAUNDRY
• the dentist @ 2pm
• molasses crinkles
• vacuuming
• pick up passport applications
• a few groceries
• the fireplace is back on - it is raining steadily - but today I am OK with it.

weekend

Saturday was a lovely day. Busy. After work finished, I drove around completing a bunch of errands and there was still time to enjoy some sunshine.



Heliotrope is a fantastic mother's day gift.

culture infusion

We are narrowing down the dates to see Othello at Bard on the Beach.
I have renewed our membership to the Art Gallery so we can see the Dutch Masters exhibit anytime we want through the summer.

This makes me very happy.

interesting

thoughts of the day

I am feeling slightly behind the eight ball. I am very busy at work. I feel as soon as hit the office I don't look up. I am working on a bunch of projects and I am constantly being interrupted to answer a quick question. Nothing can completed with one phone call.

We are hitting laundry crisis point.

We have a hot water issue. We run out. Frequently. We have a new tank so, I need to make some phone calls.

We need more fruit and veggies.

I am getting very tired of making lunches.

I need to turn this around. So, in the spirit of these words:

I am thankful that I have secure employment.
I am thankful that we have an inhouse washer and dryer and for choice of clothing.
I am thankful for healthy children that I have to NAG to do their chores.
I am thankful for running water.
I am thankful that the grocery store is always well stocked with choices.
I am thankful that my children eat peanut butter sandwiches without complaint.

Other things:

A lovely new salmon coloured tulip has appeared in the garden. I am going to take it to work.

My daughter and I are going to watch the grade 12's final dance production. There are some very talented kids in this grade and it will be fabulous.

My husband shall eat pizza and he is happy so I am happy.

I am hoping to get to the nursery this weekend. The sun is supposed to shine and I look forward to working in the garden.

go your own way

My son walks to the beat of his own drum. He decided he needed a cowboy hat and he went in search of one. He called around for a buddy to go shopping but no one was available so he ventured forth on his own. He even found a deal 50% off.

my eight things

8 Things I am looking forward to:

1. consistent warmer weather
2. the first BBQ with friends on the deck
3. seeing my sister today
4. pilates class today
5. seeing my daughter perform later this week
   
6. seeing my husband again
7. going to the nursery to pick out plants
8. planting my terra cotta pots

8 things I did yesterday:

1. liturgical work
2. laundry
3. apple tree pruning - see below
4. destroyed one pair of jeans
   
5. watched half of the movie "Seven Pounds" with Will Smith
6. rested
7. good conversation with good friend with whom I have not spoken in very long time
8. attacked the dandelions in my front garden

8 Things I wish I could do:

1. build a darkroom for Mr. W
2. sew more often
3. knit those socks
4. take the entire summer off with the family
5. finish the laundry
6. take the kids to Europe
7. be more a more organized housekeeper
8. create time
   

8 Shows I watch:
* I canceled cable so we watch TV on DVD.

1. House
2. Friday Night Lights
   
3. Lost
   
4. Sopranos
5. we went through a Survivor phase

sacrifice

Imagine if you will:

Me, climbing the apple tree to do some much neglected pruning. Initially I was on the ladder but then decided to step up into the tree to reach some of the hard to reach branches. I was feeling pretty good about my ability to balance and prune and only had one minor panic attack. But, when I was finished, I had to get down out of the tree. I got caught on a branch and was stuck. Stuck as in - a branch pierced my jeans and I was unable to move. There was no way I was calling for help with the neighbours in hearing distance. So, after some serious body manipulation and the sacrifice of the jeans I set myself free.

I was done for the day. I drank two beer.

tagged

a meme via blackbird

What are you current obsessions?
strawberries dipped in chocolate - someone always brings them to pascha but I never got any... it just occurred to me today I could dip my own. yum.
museli in the morning. with my americano.

What item in your wardrobe do you wear most often?
definitely my black button up cardigan. I am almost never without it at work. I have a white one that is only for spring summer.

What's for dinner?
thai salad. sui choi, green onions, noodles, red pepper, carrots, snap peas, bean sprouts, chicken and thai salad dressing + cashews for garnish.

What are you listening to?
Still enjoying the Great Lake Swimmers.

What are your favourite holiday spots?
the Okanagan - Chaunigan Lake - but I sure would like to go to Hawaii.

What are you reading right now?
A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg.

What is your guilty pleasure?
More than 2 ice cold maple cream ales in a night.

Who or what makes you laugh?
Our dumb dog. Seriously dumb.

What is your favourite spring thing to do?
Work in the garden.

Where are you planning on travelling next?
Okanagan? Galiano Island?

What is the best thing you ate or drank lately?
Salad pizza with pinot gris.

Whe was the last time you were tipsy?
Gosh - long time ago - before Lent. Maybe Hemlock.

What is your favourite ever film?
This is a challenge - I loved The Chosen. I loved the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

What is the biggest life lesson you have learned from your kids?
Grab the immediacy of the moment. It is not coming back.

What song can't you get out of your head?
Sweet as Me by Gabriella Cilmi - check it out on youtube - you'll have to look it up as embedding is disabled.

What book do you know you should read but refuse to?
Nothing is coming to mind at the moment...

What kind of learner are you? Auditory, Visual?
I need you to show me how to do it and then I will get it; ie using computer programs. I need to write notes. Writing helps lock it into the brain.

The rules of this meme are:
Respond and rework the meme - interpret this any way you like
answer the questions on your own blog
replace one question and add one question of your own... I kind of lost of track myself.
Tage 8 people - or so.

I tag
simply vic
natalia
jaime
tabatha

TGIF*

I am delighted it is Friday.
It is going to be a lovely, warm sunny day.
The children are sleeping as it is a Pro D day.
My husband left for work very early.
It is quiet.
The coffee is tasting mighty fine.
BBQ tonight.
The Canucks won - barely.
Baking chocolate chip cookies.
Thankful for the day.
Even though my weekend doesn't officially start until tomorrow afternoon.