My week in pictures

Last of the leaves are raked

Stray marigold.  Last blossom growing in a crack between the sidewalk and the road.

A happy man.  He now has a snowblower and is ready for snow.

It's catch up with Elizabeth time

Learned how to make Pavlova from the girl next door.  She's originally from Perth Australia.  Sept. 16th 

Paul decide if I could take photos of food he could too.  His self packed picnic in the park.  Sept. 18th

British Car Day in Bronte Park.   I like the reflections. Paul liked the cars.  Sept. 18th

On the landing, sun coming in the side window.  I like the shadow on the wall.  Sept. 24th.

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I've been on a cleaning and recycling rampage.    The Salvation Army has benefited.  I've sold some items on Kijiji and I've put out my max garbage allowance several weeks running.     I feel so much lighter now.

Today I went through multiple boxes and have sorted and repacked, in new rubbermaid bins - there was a 2 for one sale - certificates, school stuff, family photos, cards etc. Each new one now labelled and ready for a final sort.    I found out after Paul made his feelings known that I need to let each person decide what to keep and what to toss.    I apparently have the boys a little scared with my  level of purging.

It's our 41st anniversary this weekend as well as the Canadian Thanksgiving.  After days of wet weather we are now having sunny skies and warmer temperatures and it promises to stay this way so we can enjoy my favourite time of year ... Autumn. 

Today I turned into a Senior...

...at least in the eyes of the government.   

The poppies in my garden usually bloom on my Birthday.  This year the first few were a day or two early.  Hopefully when I get outside  I will find them still standing after the spectacular storm Mother Nature gifted me with this morning.   (this bud photo was taken yesterday )

Dinner tonight with my family.

Just days away from my trip west with Catherine.   I'm excited.

Changing colours

The iris have started and the poppies should be next

What I did on my long weekend

 

We went for a walk today between threatened rain storms so I could test out one pair of shoes that I thought might be worth packing for my holiday west.   They are not going with me.  Didn't take long to discover my older running shoes cause less stress on my hip and leg.  I think it's the type/material heel construction.    

Went to the mall Friday and got some good bargains on pants.   Two pairs of capris and one pair of dressy long pants.   Now I'll be wondering what to leave behind rather than worrying that I haven't enough to pack.

Had my hair cut on Sunday at a new salon.  The place I'd been going for years and years and years closed  and I had to find someplace new.   Like the results so far, I'll see how it grows in.    Costs the same and is only a little further away.

The sofa bed in the spare/computer room is already littered with "things to pack".  I  drop things there as I think of them.       My suitcase is looking smaller and smaller every day.  

Our long weekend is just winding down, it was a good one. Between the showers I planted some basil, a few more flowers,  tried to tame the fast growing clematis, did some weeding and found homes for most of the ornaments that I like to place about in the beds..  The garden is looking good.     

We had our first taste of local asparagus. We grilled it with some yellow zucchini and I was pleasantly surprised at how sweet both tasted.   Just a little olive oil and sea salt so the true flavours would shine.

During a lull in the rain

Bleeding Heart. 

Primroses are happy with the cool wet weather

Hostas, Solomon's Seal, sedum and ground cover  under my back maple tree.

The rain has been a bother but I can't complain at how it has greened up my garden.  Everything is growing and lasting well thanks to the cool temperatures.   The weatherman says we might have a nice sunny day on Saturday.   Several days in a row would be nice.  We are coming up to the first official long weekend of Summer 2011.

I decided to throw myself a Birthday party.  Today I reserved a table for six - sister Catherine and Eric, sister Barbara, son Stephen, me and Paul   at La Spaghett  and have told Paul I would like cake and wine back here at the house after dinner.    Having family celebrating with me will be all the gift I need.

Return of the missing

front garden

Squirrel proofing

Water drops in the sedum

reflection

I know I posted these pictures just after Mother's Day but they seems to have wander off into the abyss taking whatever witty comments I might have made  along with them.

Bet I went to fix something and forgot to publish.    Must be the weather, can't have anything to do with age.  I am not ready to admit to senior moments quite yet.

It wasn't me after all, it was Blogger.    Is it telling that I don't think beyond my own fingers and brain?   

My garden on Mother's Day

Filling in with colour

Growing forks

After  rain, Autumn Joy Sedum

Can you see the refection? 

Some colour and green growth finally on show in the front garden.   It looks like spring even if it still doesn't feel like it.

I'm not really growing forks I'm trying to discourage squirrels.   I read on line that it works to keep the pests out of pots and as we all know, everything on line is true so I'm giving it a try in with my herbs.    If one of the little beggars manages to die a quick death by impaling itself, I'm all set to  COOK   dinner.

Easter weekend treat - colour in my garden

The first- hopefully the rest will follow quickly

Tiny and short lived but pretty

They came back!  Last years pansies have started blooming

Pulled the pots of French Tarragon from the garage and they are doing well. Just have to keep the squirrels out of the pots.

Oh what a lovely afternoon

First one up in my garden

 

Today started with black skies, thunder and rain.  By noon it had cleared and now, late afternoon, it is 23C.  Paul has pulled the BBQ from the garage, given it a test run, and I have steaks marinating in the kitchen.  

I don't expect we will keep this warm weather so the shorts won't be coming out of the back of the closet quite yet and the electric blanket will stay on the bed, but what a nice introduction to what is to come.

Leg and hip are feeling much better.  Hopefully I will get back to the gym by Wednesday.   

Finally something new here

Crocus

  Spring colour has started.

click to enlarge


What's new with me.

My left leg and back are still not yet back to normal.  Apparently as I've aged I've managed to develop a touch of arthritis in my sacroiliac joints. I'm on my second dose of anti-inflammatories and I'm not thrilled with the continuing slowness and aches.  At least I can walk from one end of the mall to the other now.

I've had two sessions with a physiotherapist and when I go on Monday I'll be asking for a Do and Don't list of exercises that will work  for me.  I have some strengthening ones already to do at home but I want to get back to class.  I miss the social aspect as well as the work out.

Having spent many an hour on the computer searching Bed and Breakfasts, routes, things to see in do on a drive from here to Savannah Georgia I decided it was just too exhausting to try and organize so I checked airline prices to Victoria BC, emailed my nieces and called their mother, my sister Catherine.    C. and I fly out June 9th and return on the 22nd.  A girls only holiday, something I've wanted to do for years.   Paul and I spent 5 weeks there in 2008 so I'll know my way around their neighbourhood and having been, he doesn't feel slighted at being left at home. 

 I've done some light cleanup in the yard and garden.  I've pulled dusty forgotten books from shelves.  I've finally updated my blog.

Snow on the ground but music in my ears

Follow the arrow to Kathy. We exercise together at the gym.

 The Bach Elgar Choir  performed, Great Opera Choruses in the auditorium at the Royal Botanical gardens this afternoon.  They were joined by three soloist and I was particularly thrilled with mezzo soprano Erica Iris Huang.  With only a piano for accompaniment the hall was filled with voices producing incredible music.

In May they are performing Handel's  Judas Maccabeus and I intent to attend.  This time it will be in a local church, their normal venue.

I had gone early so I could visit the gardens but my leg just wasn't up to the wandering.  I did manage a few flower snaps as I made my way to the exit.

Into September

the cherry tomatoes continue

the raspberries are finishing

some flowers remain on the lavender


while others have gone to seed

When we went walking today..

...I took along my new camera, a Pentax Optio W90 . (I got basic black) Having carried my full size Fuji and case around Newfoundland I was ready to try something smaller and lighter. This one fits in my pocket !

I still have a lot to learn but I'm happy with some of my pictures today.
click to enlarge
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Paul took this one with his camera.

What's new with me

The rabbit didn't get the red lilies this year. I'm thrilled with the deep rich colour.

This is blooming at the same time. Some day I might remember what it is. This is a closeup of one of the flowers on a tall stock.

Thanks to all the rain we've been having the driveway repaving set for last week started this morning. They got the old asphalt removed and a new base down before it started raining, again! It will be completed when we have a dry day.

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Fell off my bicycle on Sunday. I have a few bruises the bike is fine. I've come to realize that I have to make up my mind fast rather than dithering over the wisdom of tackling a steep grade. At least my dignity is intact, Paul was the only one who watch saw me fall. I apparently it was not graceful.

I'm on a quest for the perfect pair of travelling pants. They need to be lightweight to pack, comfy to wear while hiking, sitting on the bus and they have to have a little style so I don't look totally geeky in restaurants.
So far I fear that pants like this do not exist....at least for me.
I did try one pair with a very dropped waist but I'm a little past the droopy bottom fit.
It doesn't help that I have an aversion to paying over $40.00 and have a preference for clearance racks.

Walking with camera

Down the stairs at the end of our street

along the trail..this segment heads west

passed fallen trees, with just a whisper of traffic noise filtering through

until reaching the roadway home along the top of the escarpment.


I took some photos for you...

Rock formation near the middle of the walk..note the large segments

a pretty weed

greenery looking healthy growing on the rock face

the spider wasn't home

notice how much smaller the rocks are near the top of the path

We hit the trail again, doing only a portion this time, with our cameras. Paul is playing with a new to him camera and IF he can figure out the all the settings before our holiday it will be the one he takes. I figure if you know where to find the auto setting , how to use the zoom and find the micro button, everything else can be left to chance. He's a read the whole manual kind of guy. *grin*

as always click to enlarge