Eating Out

In my working days, I'd rather have had a warm meal waiting for me when I arrived home at the end of the day than a spotless house. 

But in fact, I had neither! 

So, after work, I'd come home and scramble to get a meal on the table for the family. It helped to have a weekly plan - and one of the kids designated to set the table.

Then on Saturdays, we'd gather the crew (i.e., the kids) and all share in vacuuming and tidying till it was all done.

BUT NOW... (in retirement) Terry and I enjoy eating out once or twice a week. It's a luxury, I know! We like to order food that we don't usually make at home.

Above are photos of some of the lovely meals we've eaten out recently. (No apologies! We want the restaurants to stay in business!*)

*This batch of photos was taken at Pilos, Alice's Cafe, and the Miller's Oven.

Back to Painting

Ten days ago, I drove to Almonte, to the church we've been attending with my son and his family.

I should mention that Almonte is known - among other things - for its annual puppet festival and for making puppets.... a form of art.

But I was heading to the church basement where "creative circles" meet on different days of the week. I had decided to check out the group that meets to do art.

I wasn't planning to participate - just check out what they did.., but I was offered water color pencils and paper - and did a bit...

As a photo reference. I used a photo from my phone - a Hawaiian sunset that I took in 2019 on my last night in Maui.

Later, at home, I added to my picture, trying to make it more vibrant. Here it is, still unfinished. More black needed?!

No masterpiece!... No pressure either... just relaxing and fun, sitting around, painting and chatting - sharing tips and stories. 

I'd like to make the painting "circle" a part of my week - as I don't seem to do much painting on my own and I want to be more creative. It gives me such joy!!

Coming Soon

A new store is coming to the shopping centre where I do my daily walking...

Seeing the signs, Terry regularly asks me if they're open yet...

Not yet - but its getting close...

Lots of boxes of clothing have arrived. Next step, I suppose, is putting things on the racks! 

How Big is the Amaryllis?!

I didn't realize that your amaryllis was that tall,  my daughter commented when she walked into the room. Close-up photos don't give an accurate sense of its size.

How big is it? I wondered... and measured...

From the pot to the tip of the flower was 31 inches (79 cm).

The first flower to bloom was 8 inches by 7 inches... (20 cm by 18 cm).

I wonder if this is what the plant measured last year when it first bloomed for me, its bulb encased in wax... Or was the enriched soil I transplanted the bulbs in - the soil that claimed to grow bigger plants - the reason why the plant is now so tall?! 

I wonder...

One More Hour ☀️

I took these pictures at daybreak 10 days ago - after we had our last snowfall (which, thankfully, disappeared quickly).

Today we mark another hour of daylight added to our lengthening days of spring. It has taken 20 days to gain that hour. 

Sunset comes later, too...

We now enjoy 14 hours of daylight as we head towards our annual maximum: 15 hours and 40 minutes - at the rate of about 3 minutes more sunlight per day.

(Four months ago, at our lowest point, we had only 8 hours and 43 minutes. 

For people like me - whose mood is greatly affected by sunlight - it does make a difference!

Kitty is 50!

Years ago, my daughter got some "Hello Kitty" pajama pants... (Hmmm... Spell check wants me to spell it pyjama!)

That was my introduction to "Hello Kitty" - a Japanese cartoon character, who this year turns 50 years old! I had never noticed "Hello Kitty" until my then-teenage daughter started getting a few things.... Later a "Hello Kitty" phone was added to the collection.

I was alerted to this cartoon character birthday / anniversary by a sign in the mall where I take s daily walk.

The thought occurred to me that the creator of this character could have lived well all her life off the earnings of her art... but possibly not. Wikipedia tells me that she was an employee of a company that made plastic shoes decorated with cartoon characters. I wonder if she was fairly compensated before she left the company..,

So there seems to be a wave of nostalgia - as I'm seeing Hello Kitty everywhere. My favourite is this journal.

But 50 years?! How is it possible?! A reminder that time flies!

Only Half the Story

My daughter recently sent us this picture she took...

Yikes!

The story behind this picture is that these two people were patiently waiting for their daughter to decide which plants to buy.

Standing is tiring - so they looked for  somewhere to sit. Finding no bench nearby, they sat on the only seats they could find.

(Then the picture was taken!)

Lesson learned: Even pictures don't tell the whole story!... 

(Though, had the store been empty, Terry might have enjoyed taking the vehicle for a spin.)

Second Amaryllis in Bloom

My bright red amaryllis ended its blooming season last week...

 And now the second of my four bulbs has started to bloom.

It was lovely to see the three flowers begin to emerge from the bud...

Now one has dropped down...

Tomorrow it may open up even further.

It's happening so slowly... that I'm able to see it  bloom - as if in slow motion!

Visitor

My daughter noticed a small visitor on her car.

Not enough branches in our neighbourhood?

As long as you don't plan to build a nest...!

Granny Square 💕

In my daily mall walking, I've been noticing "granny squares" - a simple but beautiful crochet pattern...

I haven't made them in a while...

Clothing-wise, I'd use them in a jacket or vest but not a dress! Why? Too many holes!!

Signs of Spring

Apart from the appearance of early spring flowers, like the hellebores above and the scilla below...

Our little corner of the world has yet another sign of spring.

The winter dome has been taken down at the nearby college soccer field!

Here it is - coming down... It takes about 50 people - working all day - to fold it up and pack it away.

Soon we'll be seeing soccer players, young and old, running around the field - another indications that our winter is done!

Springtime Visitor

During the winter - the most tantalizing visitors on the other side of the window were wind-blown leaves and large fluffy snowflakes...

But NOW my daughter's cats are excited to see REAL wildlife visitors ... flying BIRDS! 

The napping basket holds no interest when this action is around!

Sister-Teacher...

I wonder if most teachers start their lives as big sisters (or big brothers).

First they model the task... Then they teach.

I see it as a natural progression.

"Do you want to try to stand on your head?"

"Let me help you..."

"There, you did it...!"

Helping a younger sibling builds confidence  - both for the "teacher" AND the "student"!

Amaryllis Update

Only one of my four amaryllis plants is currently in bloom.

And that one (in this picture taken the following day) is beginning to fall to the right... Does it need water? Or is this the next phase of its natural development?! I'll water it just in case.

Another will hopefully bloom soon...

And the rest?! Even the ones that show no sign of blooming make me smile. The outstretched leaves of this one remind me of a goose in flight...

Or loving arms outstretched in joy!