What a great day!

We had marvelous weather for Mother's Day.  The temperature reached 26C (79F) and though it was breezy, it was a great day to be outside.

I got the leaves raked up in both the front and back yards.  This is the little bit of grass I have in the back yard.  It's starting to turn green!

I'm grateful my yard is small, because even as tiny as it is, I still got two full large bags of debris picked up.

I also had to pick up another dead bird in the front flower bed.  Any one have ideas on how to keep them from flying into the window?  It's not like it's clean!

I also put out the deck furniture.  The cushions had been hung in the small shed for the winter, and this kept the mice from getting into them.

The furniture is metal, and boy was it dirty from sitting all winter.  It took two pails of water to get the worst of it off.

I spent a good deal of the afternoon out on the deck, with a cold drink, reading and enjoying the sunshine.  There was a robin in the tree - I should have gotten the camera, but I didn't want to disturb him.

In fact, I didn't get around to picking up the camera until early evening.  So if the pictures are a little dark, it is due in part to the evening light and the fact I'm using the manual mode on the camera.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day.  My son fed the cats and made coffee in the morning, so I actually slept in a little, and my daughter helped me with dinner.  I got to do the things I love to do, a little gardening, reading on the deck, a nap with Sami and Saku, and enjoying the fresh air.

Have a great Monday everyone!

Mother's Day

I must admit to having mixed emotions about Mother's Day.

As a mom, it's great to be acknowledged for the work and worry of motherhood. Though frankly, rather than flowers and dinner, I'd rather my adult children moved out did their fair share around here.  If one of them were to vacuum the entire house, I'd be thrilled to bits...especially if they kept it up week after week.  

But I digress.  The other side of Mother's Day are the memories of my Nan and my mom.  My Nan was my mom's mom; a woman who refused to be called Grandma or Grandmother because she wasn't that "old".

She was right, she wasn't old.  Nan passed away, forty-one years ago this weekend, at the age of 65.  She and Grandpa (he was old....er) had spent Saturday afternoon, as they often did, at the local pub having a couple of beers with their friends.  Grandpa drove home and as they walked towards the back door Nan stopped to sit on the step.  She told Grandpa she was tired, wanted to sit for a minute, and he went indoors briefly.  When he came back out, she had fallen over, and as we learned later had passed away of an aneurysm in the main artery of her heart.  

I was 13 years old that year, and I recall Mom getting the phone call from her father.  We had just finished signing Nan's Mother's Day card.  She and Grandpa always came for Sunday dinner.  Mom didn't tell us what had happened but simply said we needed to go to town.  When we pulled into their yard, we stayed in the car with Dad until she went in and came back out to tell us.  Dad then took us to our aunt and uncle's home to wait for them.  I recall feeling overwhelmed and frightened, and I cried for what seemed like hours.

The memory of her death has always been entwined in my mind with Mother's Day.  As I grew older, I was grateful she had a good final day spending time with friends though always wished we could have had her with us longer.

I feel much the same about Mom.  I know she was ill for a very long time and I wouldn't have wished another day of suffering on her.  But damn I miss her, and Mother's Day just brings those feelings to the forefront even more.  I think no child, no matter their age, ever really gets over that need for their mother to be part of their lives.   

Well, at least I haven't and it doesn't look like my children will ever get there either.  A little distance would be nice though!

Where ever you are today, have a wonderful day.  Phone or hug your mom, if you're lucky enough  to still be able to share time here on earth with her.  And if, like me, you are missing your mom, I leave you with some of the lyrics of Diamond Rio's "One more day with you". 

Last night I had a crazy dream 

A wish was granted just for me, it could be for anything 
I didn't ask for money or a mansion in Malibu 
I simply wished, for one more day with you 

One more day, one more time 
One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied 
But then again, I know what it would do 
Leave me wishing still, for one more day with you 

I love you Mom, always and forever.

Playing catch-up

Another week has simply flown by, and I've hardly had a chance to post anything, either here or for the cats.  I'm not certain if it the arrival of spring (finally!) or my continual procrastination that has me feeling as though there is too much to do and too little time to do it in.

Monday and Tuesday were spent travelling to and from Saskatoon, and attending a meeting there. The meeting was good, but the rental vehicle I drove sustained damage when someone backed into it.  Of course, there was no note, so I'm responsible to pay for the damage up-front and make a claim on my credit card insurance.

Wednesday evening was my photography class (7-10 p.m.).  It was warm enough to get outdoors and do some shooting in the sunshine and shade.  For this session, there is just one more class, but I'm considering signing up for the second level.  To do so, I need to make a phone call...which I haven't done yet!

On Thursday evening, I had a landscaper come by to review the plans, and take some measurements, to obtain a quote on xeriscaping the front yard.  He promised to have the information to me by Monday.  I've got my fingers crossed, that it isn't a ridiculous quote, so far above what I'm willing to pay that I have to keep searching for a landscaper.

Last night, I went for dinner with my good friend C, her mom L, and her friends J and H.  L had contacted me earlier in the week to invite me to join her in celebrating C's 40th birthday.  Both J and I arrived before C and her boyfriend H, so it a surprise for her when they came through the door.  We had a great meal and lots of laughs!

Today is housecleaning day, I've got laundry started, my bedroom tidied, bathroom scrubbed, dishes done, and the vacuum is sitting here looking at me.  I also have a submission I need to complete for a selection process at work.  The position is at my current level but in a different area. I'm having difficulty summing up 5 years of work in three pages.

With the warmer weather, the outdoors is beckoning my attention too.  I need to get out and rake the front and back lawn, pick up the tree branches that broke off over winter, and clear out the containers. I took a walk through a couple of garden centers yesterday but it's still too cool to purchase anything, as we are still falling below freezing a couple of nights a week.  I'll be happy if I can get things planted by mid-June this year.
I spotted early maturing tomatoes at Lowes' that are already 2-3 feet tall.  They are pricey but at least I'd be certain of getting some fruit from them this year.  I don't generally grow any other veg, but I do love garden fresh tomatoes.

Well, this isn't getting done the things I still to accomplish today, so I'd best get at it.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Friday Funny

Another new illness to watch out for! 

A woman calls her boss one morning and tells him that she is staying home because she is not feeling well. 

 
'What's the matter?' he asks. 

'I have a case of anal glaucoma,' she says in a weak voice. 

'What the hell is anal glaucoma?' 

'I can't see my ass coming into work today. 

One word Wednesday

Hooray!

Random Sunday

Thanks to everyone who commented on the posts of my trip to O'ahu.  It was fun to share my memories of a great trip!  Now I'm back to my regular, mostly boring posts.

Spring has finally arrived here for certain and the snow is melting quickly.  There are 340 homes in the city that have received letters they may have to evacuate if the water rises too much, but where I live this is not a problem.

Although the temperature reached 17C (63F) yesterday, the snow pile in the front yard remains but is definitely getting smaller.  I've been going out spreading the snow so that it will disappear more quickly.

A few weeks and I should be able to plant the front flower bed.  Hurray!

But there are buds on the tree in the front yard! Just knowing things will be greening up soon improves my mood.

The cats and I have been enjoying the sun room at the back of the house, they for playing and napping, while I enjoy relaxing and reading a book.  I feel like my house gets bigger every spring and shrinks again in the fall.

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Last week was the third week of our photography class.  I feel like I've learned a lot already, but this week's assignment was challenging.

We had a do a shoot using AV or Manual mode, calibrating the white balance, and various settings to shoot black on black, white on white, and then finally black and white in color.  Confusing?  It was to me too, although in class it all seemed clear.  Putting it into practice was definitely more difficult.

This is my final picture, in manual mode, with custom white balance.  The black detail isn't as strong as the white, but it is in focus!

The one lesson I've learned is, to use your camera in a manual mode requires much patient.  Not a trait, I'm well know for. :-)

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Work last week was busy and this week is looking the same.  Most of our supervisors and managers are off to Saskatoon tomorrow for two days of meetings.  As a member of the organizing committee I was tasked with arranging for rental vehicles, and I needed to know who the drivers in order to complete the reservation.  Even though there are over 30 people going, finding volunteers to drive was a challenge, but in the end after several requests we had the requisite number.  

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Kea from Fuzzy Tales asked about my plans for my next trip.  She knows me well....there are plans made and some in the works.  I'm heading to Vancouver Island (Nanaimo, Parksville, and Qualicum Beach) for the September long weekend, flights and a rental vehicle have been booked, and my cousin is looking into accommodations for me.  She lives in a resort area in Parksville so gets a discount is she makes the reservation.  

This is the area I think I want to retire to so this trip is a short one, Friday through Tuesday.  I plan to visit with my cousin and my uncle, and spend some time wandering the communities of Parksville and Qualicum Beach.  If I like it, and I can't imagine I won't, the plan is to take a month's leave of absence in late 2014.  I'll find a place to rent and live there when the weather is less pleasant to see if I can tolerate the rain.  If I can't, then it's either find a different place to retire, or plan to spend that period of the year elsewhere.  I know, I know, I'm a planner...nothing spontaneous about me!

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Time to catch up with all of you.  Hope you've had a wonderful weekend!

O'ahu - Part 7

For our last full day on O'ahu we decided to drive up the east coast of the island, stopping at Hanauma Bay on the way.   I don't have any notes made, so I'll have to use the photos to refresh my memory.

The route we followed was the one the tour bus had taken to the luau so the road seemed somewhat familiar to me.  The coastline is absolutely beautiful.

We started off around 9 a.m. from the hotel, and by the time we got to Hanuama Bay the park was filling up.

There is a pathway down to the beach, or if one needs to ride a shuttle is available.  Before you're allowed to make your way down though the park shows a 9 minute video explaining the ecosystem and reminding visitors not to stand on the coral.

Unfortunately, not everyone pays attention. :(

We spent over an hour enjoying watching the fish in the water, and hanging out on the beach.

If you squint just right, you might be able to make out a little yellow and black fish.  There are also grey striped ones in the picture above the little fish.  I have a lot of pictures of those ones!

I'm not certain where the next picture was taken but it was between Hanuama Bay and our next stop in Sandy Beach.  It was apparent the water had been much higher at some points are the erosion was clear even from the road.

We left Hanauma Bay and headed around the coast up towards Kailua.  I should mention, we'd met a young woman who worked in Kailua on our catamaran cruise earlier in the week so we decided we'd check the place out.  On the way, we came across Sandy Beach so we stopped briefly to take a few pictures.

Despite, or perhaps because, of the waves there were lots of people in the water.  They are certainly braver than I am!










Our goal in Kailua was to find a place to have a plate lunch.  Frankly I'd never heard of such a thing, but we had read about and been told that a traditional plate lunch is two scoops of rice, a scoop of macaroni and cheese, with some form of protein.  We found the L&L Drive Inn in Kailua where we indulged in the "healthy choice" plate lunch.
Just one scoop of rice, with a garden salad and two pieces of grilled masa masa (a local whitefish).  Yummy!

We drove back to another spot on Sandy Beach where we found a park bench to sit and watch the ocean.  When we sat down, we'd taken note the bench had been donated by the "family of" but thought nothing more of it until we were approached by two women.  They explained they were the "family of" and wanted to use the bench to sit and pray.  Of course, we moved to another bench in the small park across the road.

The wind had picked up throughout the day so the park was full of people flying their kites.

This fellow had the most interesting way.  He used the scooter (and I suspect his core muscles) to cross back and forth across the park with his kite.

We headed back into Waikiki, arriving back in the city about 3:30 p.m.  We'd barely made it into our room and opened the balcony door when the sky opened up and it began to pour rain.  It kept up until we went for dinner around 6:30.  Initially, we planned to find a Chinese restaurant but ended instead at Cha Cha Cha, a Mexican restaurant. The food was good, especially the guacamole dip for the tortillas!

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Monday was a short day, we checked out of the hotel at noon as we were unable to get a late checkout.  We spent most of the afternoon at Al Moana Park (across from the shopping center).  We took a walk along the beach and counted six couples having wedding photos taken!

Here I am taking the last walk along the beach.  I don't look very happy about leaving, do I?

After delivering the car back to the rental place we hung out at the airport until our flight left at 8:30 p.m.  It was while we were having dinner at the airport when we learned of the bombings in Boston.  Back to the real world with a thud!  

O'ahu is a marvelous place to visit, as there SO much to see and do. It isn't a place I'd go for the beach (Rodney Bay has stolen my heart) but it offers much more including the history of the Islands, the ease of getting around, the shopping, restaurants, and the beauty of the coast line.