Photos from the last week

Whew! I was pretty far behind downloading photos from my camera. Getting lazy I guess – sometimes it is just easier to write my posts on my tablet and post from there!

Ants in my Nose

We got home yesterday and lo and behold my favourite peonies were in their prime, with the other bushes yet to flower. I was sure that I'd miss them all, but the cold weather must have slowed them down. My nose has been buried in the fragrant petals at every opportunity. Bliss.

We were lucky enough to be invited to our friends place for dinner last night. It was the first time I had been in Trudie's garden in the summer and I was wowed. I didn't have the presence of mind to take photos, but just imagine a lush garden with winding paths weaving among beds filled with vegetation and sprinkled with statuary. With every turn of the path another garden area was entered. It is huge! Supper was served in the middle of the garden and miraculously there were no bugs which is very strange for this time of year.

Carm and I made a pact before we headed to the rally - no trailer shopping. Well, we didn't exactly shop... but we did look around... and today we just got back from a huge RV sale... all cheques still in our wallet... so far. (look at that fridge! Plenty of room for all our veggies.)

Oh! I wanted to tell you about the great cd we have in the truck. Years ago for Carm's 50th birthday, friends Margot and Stewart brought a cd that they had created with the top 30 songs from 1954. What an amazing gift! Those songs are included on the "mix tape" that I made for the truck, so we enjoy the music whenever we take a long trip. The Happy Wanderer is one that brings many memories for Carm (he was told not to sing in a school pageant).

For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.
Carl Sagan

I am Blessed

This morning as soon as I walked out the door for our little walk I was blessed with the fragrant spring scent of apple blossoms. Walking down the tree lined lane way I couldn't help but realize how lucky I am. The grass was a brilliant green, the trees were covered with white and pink blossoms, the birds were singing in the trees. Don't people write poetry about times like these? I wanted to emblazon the feeling onto my soul so that I can conjure it up during darker times.

We walked both  loops this morning - the hay field, with its green grass and Norway Spruce border, it has a good view of the river as well. Then (after walking past the apple trees again) we walked the lower pond paddock. It has trees and shrubs growing in it. The chocolate trees with their rich dark bark were awash in delicate white flowers, the hawthorns were likewise adorned. Some other trees, that I don't know the names of also had some buds. Everywhere I walked I breathed in the scent of sweet flowers and growing green things. There must have been hundreds of birds, all singing their songs. The contrast from the stark days of winter makes my head reel. Oh my gosh I could go on and on.

Later in the morning we drove to the local health food store. I hadn't been there for years so wanted to see what they had. I saw lots of interesting things but only picked up a package of Kamut, a grain that is called for in some of the recipes in the new book I have. To get there we had to drive down a country lane that we don't travel very frequently. Everything looks so green and lush.

Our "big" job of the day was to put down a rubber mat underneath the washer and dryer. After emptying all the stuff out of the room, except the heavy washer (why do we have so many shoes?) we got the mat down. Carm grunted and groaned to get the washer back in place. It's a good thing he still has his young muscles :-)  We had to do a test right away to see how much the mat will help with the shake, rattle &  roll of the washer. It worked! I was surprised just how much it was quieted down.

Then we were back outside for some planting and just enjoying our property. Of course I had to wax poetic the whole time we were outside. Mother Nature breathes life back into the earth, and I think some of it was also blown back into me.

Flowers grow out of dark moments.
Corita Kent

Dandelions and Other Fancy Stuff

We saw our first dandelions last weekend, Sunday I think. This is the earliest by far that they've ever been out. At least that we noticed. Last year it was in May! We were tramping around checking on the oaks that we planted last spring, and there they were, in all their yellow glory. And since our grass is less lawn and more pasture, we were happy to see them.

All manner of growing things have been sprouting and showing their colourful heads. The periwinkle has some blooms. A solitary tulip has sprung up in an unexpected spot, it's red head bright among the undergrowth. The peony's are poking their burgundy stems through the earth. Some are starting to look quite tall. The poppies have started growing through the gravel path just like they do every year, we'll take an alternate route again this year. Leaves are unfurling from delicate buds, there will soon be leaves on the trees. I think "green day" may be a little early this year.

We took advantage of the sunny weather today to get some digging done in the garden. I think we all enjoyed basking in the sun.

 

I've been really grooving on the treadmill the last few days - I know I'm aging myself here, but the B52's album "Good Stuff" really rocks me along at a good clip with lots of energy. I did 60 minutes today with their help!  In keeping with my new active life, yesterday Christina and I went for a good walk before our tea. We would have walked longer, but the wind was practically blowing the hair off our heads! Not conductive to good conversation.

As I was standing at the kitchen counter cleaning brussels sprouts I noticed the the (new) Kingfisher was back in his tree. Sure enough it wasn't long before he darted down into the pond and came up with a bright orange fish. He flew to a tree across the pond. We could see him wrestling with his supper for quite a while. I just love the wildlife our pond attracts. What better place to do kitchen chores :-)

To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.
David Viscott

Not a Shaggy-Dog Anymore

Today I did the job that leaves me itchy and prickly all over – clipping the poodles. Now they aren’t shaggy-dogs anymore - I even cut off their leg puffs. Being home all day (yeah retirement!) means they are outside so much more and thus spending time wading in the pond and just generally being dogs and getting dirty. I think (hope) a little less hair will help with the mess…

Speaking of which, today’s word of the day is shaggy-dog (shag-ee-DAWG adjective - : of, relating to, or being a long-drawn-out circumstantial story concerning an inconsequential happening that impresses the teller as humorous or interesting but the hearer as boring and pointless; also : of, relating to, or being a similar humorous story whose humour lies in the pointlessness or irrelevance of the punch line). Carm tells some pretty good jokes, but is also an expert at shaggy-dog’s. I don’t know if it is because I hear them over and over again but sometime… Some of our favourite TV shows have been shaggy-dog in their format – Corner Gas is one of these. It is a Canadian show that has its characters going through regular life, but it is a bit quirky and pointless and we find it funny.

I’m really getting the hang of making healthy soups – yesterday I made a minestrone that had: 4 stalks celery, 4 stalks bok choy, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 can white kidney beans, 1 cup dried lentils, bunch of thyme, 2 bay leaves and some chicken stock. After simmering for an hour I get out my trusty immersion blender and whiz it up a bit to make a thick broth – don’t make it smooth though. It was an easy and tasty “eat to live” soup – enough for 5 days of lunches (some goes right into the freezer for camping).

I keep forgetting to include pleasures in my post, which sort of means I’m forgetting to notice the small good things in life. For today: listening to the rain softly fall outside the bedroom window ; waking up to find Spike stretched out along side me – so cosy and warm ; getting the clipping done ; teaching Kabira to weave through me legs and having her go squirrely on me – she can be so crazy! ; re-heated soup – even better the day after it was cooked ; looking out at the deck – it doesn’t look like a giant job that needs being done anymore ; watching the dogs run around outside in their new “do” ;

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities of the world.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Swallows Swooping

I love watching the barn swallows swoop and deke and dive – they are such incredible flyers. It seems that they are performing their aerial acrobatics for the pure joy of it. We always have a few families living in the barn which used to be interesting when their babies were in the nest. They would dive at my head as I went to and fro from the barn to do my chores. I’d wear a baseball cap so they wouldn’t get tangled in my hair! I didn’t mind though – their appetite for mosquitos gives them a free pass to the airways.

The dogs made their 3rd kill yesterday – we think it was Spike again as he had the body. I don’t know where they are finding these groundhogs – we hadn’t seen any around the house until they rooted out the first one. The tall grass is keeping them very close to home so these groundhogs have to be direct neighbours.

The peonies are almost finished their glorious display. We divided and moved some plants last fall so the mass of blossoms was even more luscious than before. I’m sure I’ve said it before but they are my favourite flower – they are so Rubenesque with their voluptuous petals.

Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.
James M. Barrie

 

What are my pleasures for the last few days? Well, today it was watching the swallows do their aerobatics ; smelling the peonies ;  watching Carm balance on the edge of the pool as he vacuums it ; waking up late ; Spike on the bed cuddling against my legs ; listening to Grace talk and chatter (and call for breakfast).

Pleasures for yesterday and the day before were harder to come by, but they were there – seeing my honey in a suit – he looked so handsome I could hardly take my eyes off him ; spending time with Carm’s family – I feel much closer to them after the last week ; seeing his relatives from Toronto – I like them but we never see them – out of sight out of mind I guess ; watching from behind as Carm held his arm around his uncle Joseph (his dad’s brother) – seeing the two of them sitting side by side was heart warming – Carm a bit taller and with his back straight and strong – his uncle shorter and more frail looking with slumped shoulders – he took the death of his brother very hard – if I was an artist I would paint it (alas they would be stick figures with my skills) .

Fireflies Light the Way

I was surrounded by bright spots of flickering light as I walked down the dark laneway last night. Fairies with their lanterns lighting the way. We were heading back to the hospital to spend the night with Carm’s dad and welcomed the special magic to show us on our way.   Pa had a massive stroke on Wednesday night with fatal brain damage and is now in a coma - we are making sure that someone is with him at all times, just so he doesn’t feel alone.

I hope that the fireflies with their fairy lanterns are there to accompany Pa on his journey to heaven.

On an unrelated note, one of the good things about cancelling this weeks camping trip is that we are home for the peonies. The first few buds have blossomed, with many more to come. Peonies my favourite flower – I love the lush, sensuous, fragrant blooms.

More poppies were in blossom. These beauties show up in different locations every year as they self-seed. The usually grow on the gravel path around the garden, and of course we can’t risk damaging them so forgo the path.

 

Carm opened the pool the other day – we had hot, humid weather, but the opening of the pool assured a change to cool, cloudy…

The dog’s made their second kill on Wednesday. We think it was Spike as he was found chewing on the body. Yes, cute, fluffy, little Spike who was once an office worker is now a real dog. We feel a mixture of pride and revulsion. I don’t think there are any groundhogs left down by the barn as the dogs all run down there to check it out but quickly return to the house.

RV Shopping?

Huh! Are we crazy or just insane… Spending all that time at the Titanium Rally has given us a case of twofootitis (or in this case threefootitis). There is a model that we have always liked – the 32e37SA which has 3 slides (we have one slide) and is a few feet longer. It would give us a bit more room for Grace’s cage, the dogs and us. Especially if we end up south for a few months.

We saw a few 32’s at the rally (thanks to those who let us tour), and then headed to Cornwall on Friday to see a used one – it had few options and did not appeal to us. Then yesterday we headed to a big RV sale put together by a whole bunch of dealers. We were particularly taken with the Bighorn’s – pretty lux with lots of room. The models we liked were another foot or two bigger than the 32 though. But the kitchens – wow! As you might guess they were worth a pretty penny – if only those speculative stocks would come in big!

Today's word of the day is pomaceous (poh-MAY-shus adjective - 1: of or relating to apples ; 2: resembling a pome). Our apple trees have finished blossoming and now the tiny buds of apples are forming. This is the time we should be spraying but honestly we are both too lazy and also environmentally aware (let’s go with this reason rather than the lazy one). The pomaceous areas of our property will remain pesticide free. Sure, some of the apples will have worms, but we have been able to harvest more than enough apples for us.

I’ve been forgetting about my pleasures lately – time to get back to it. The last few days has been filled with pleasures from the sweet fragrances and beautiful colours of the flowers in my garden ;

Having the dogs listen when I called them off a little groundhog that they had cornered. In the old days of Pan and Grizzle they would have made short work of it, but the current dogs are more curious than killer ; walking into our RV and still loving it (even if it is a bit “small”) ;

Last night - killing that last mosquito that had been keeping us awake – how can something so tiny cause such disruption? The mosquitos have been brutal lately ;

Helping Carm plant some Oak seedlings that he has grown from an acorn picked up at one of our favourite campgrounds.

 

A quote from Inspiration Peak:

We are perfect, not because we’ve reached a certain point in our lives, but because we are reaching.

Mike Dooley (Slightly Adapted) (Inspirational Author, Speaker and Friend)

Last Days at the Rally

The weather turned sunny and hot on Sunday going into Monday. It was just beautiful, and the walks that we took in the mud were now lovely dry walks with pretty vistas – everything looks nicer without a layer of mud and bagpipes.

There is a little used road at the back of the park that winds along the water – it is very pretty. Once the mud was gone we walked along here at least a few times a day.

Wednesday the wind came up, blowing awnings and dust everywhere. Same wind for Thursday which made for an uncomfortable drive home – that big RV is like a giant sail…

We made more acquaintances and got to know more people better. Being there for the whole week really helped. Lots of the people travel from rally to rally, so they know each other quite well. A lot of folks travel south for the winters, some to Florida and even more to Texas. It sounds intriguing – something we may try for a few months this next winter.

We didn’t get out and about as much as we thought, but we did find a very nice dog park less than 10 minutes away. The dogs are exhausted from lack of sleep, and perhaps even the exercise and heat.

The photo below is Carm on the phone to an RV dealer in Cornwall with a camper that we might be interested in – it’s a 32’ Titanium, so a few feet bigger, but with 3 slides instead of just the one. There would be more space for all of us which would help if we were away from home for an extended period of time.

It was bitter sweet to leave for home.

We did get home to a lovely display of water Irises that my Mom had given us years ago. They have naturalized themselves around the pond – very pretty.