Eclectic Tastes

Just imagine.......

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone. 

Saturday Morning Post

So good to be out and about with freedom to explore this beautiful province....

This is Cesna, a Goldendoodle that Sophie met the other day at Lake Banook.

The sometimes much maligned Dandelion.

Ron in amongst the trees.

Beach Art at Crystal Crescent Beach.

We had a lunch date yesterday with our niece, Brynn.

Brynn just got back from France 

and she brought us back a great selection of different teas.

Early evening stroll down on the boardwalk yesterday

and came across this camper van.

The fog came in and wrapped itself around us.

Ron was resting on this HUGE log at beach, so I took some shots from this weird angle.

It was hot and humid in city yesterday, so there were more cars than usual

here.....all to cool off!

Washed ashore.....a section of pier or wharf.

I liked the way the wind had blown the sand around this grass.

Ageless

Our garden is growing/blooming like gangbusters.

Since we had a late start here in Nova Scotia,

everything appears to be in a rush to show itself.

Take these daffs for instance, they are growing under two Japanese Maples

and, I believe, they know they have a 'short window' of time in which to bloom

before the JMs above start to leaf out.

Tulips.....they don't 'make' em like they used to.

Here's their story: these were transplanted from Ron's mother's garden

17 years ago and they have bloomed every year since.

Four years ago I bought a little gift for myself (a retiring gift)

of 150 tulip bulbs and put them in the daff bed above.

They looked spectacular the first year.....all red!!

They never bloomed again.

Every flying insect around, bumble bees, wasps, flies, are loving our azalea bushes.

Here are two more of those 'tranplanted' tulips from 17 years ago in another part of garden.

Looking down a side path into the front garden.

That is a Purple Beech tree above the azalea.

'Go West Young Man.....'

Well, with the exception of the 'young' part,

that is exactly what we did!!

We went through all of the above communities yesterday to get to Crystal Crescent Beach

which is probably 60 km from our house heading in a westerly direction.

This is what we saw:

There are three white sandy crescent beaches from which to choose.

We decided on the second one and had it to ourselves.

The third beach is a nudist beach.

We thought it was a bit too chilly to go there!

But that didn't stop others as there was a steady steam of hikers

heading over the hill to the third beach.

BR-R-R-R-R

Sophie was beyond herself with joy!

There was water, sand, Mr.Orangie, Ron, Jim

in any order she wished to use!!

It was a beautiful day and the water was crystal clear......but COLD.

We opted to sit/lie down on the sand and listen to the faint surf,

and to Sophie who was intent on digging a hole all the way to China.

In His Element

After a trip to the ER and a week + of the 'COLD FROM HELL',

Ron is back doing what he likes best.....

pruning the daylights out of everything within reach!!

Here he is pruning the Hemlock that was crowding the Moon Maple

 and the Japanese Bloodgood.

*************************

Ron had to go to ER because of chest pain he was having 

while working in the garden 10 days ago.

It was NOT a heart attack.

They figured it was angina pain which went away after a shot of nitro.

All is well now.

From My Perch

While at the shop on Sunday, I noticed this hiker heading up the hill.

It was windy and cold for most of the day but that didn't stop 

hikers and shoppers from getting outdoors.

Contemplative Monday

The following quote is taken from 'The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh'

and published by 'Shambhala Pocket Classics'.

'Children Of The Earth'

"We humans think we are intelligent, but an orchid, for example,

knows how to produce symmetrical flowers;

a snail knows how to make a beautiful, well-proportioned shell.

Compared with their knowledge, ours is not worth much at all.

We should bow deeply before the orchid and the snail

and join our palms reverently before the butterfly and the magnolia tree.

The feeling of respect for all species will help us to recognize

and cultivate the noblest nature in ourselves."

Eclectic Tastes

I have been thinking about Joni Mitchell's health since
she was admitted to hospital in late March/early April.
I read the latest update (click) and the prognosis looks good.

So, sit back and enjoy.
have a wonderful Sunday all.

Saturday Morning Post

Despite the fact that we both had the 'COLD FROM HELL' all this week,

and, I must add, the first time in 42 years that we had a cold at the same time,

can you just hear us now!!!,

we did manage to get out a couple of times.

Sophie and I did a very long walk on Thursday at Point Pleasant Park.

She ran ahead and waited at the shore.

Having forgotten to take 'Mr.Orangie' from the car, she settled for a stick.

Did you know that hanging out clothes on a line can be very meditative?

Been doing this since I could reach the line.

Happy spring is here.

 Star Magnolia having a lot to say this spring.

Sophie at her best along the shore.

Pair of Canada Geese honking their heads off.

Corkscrew Larch.

A very regal Hellebore.

It's A Matter Of Perspective

'I'm in heaven......'

Star Magnolia blossom in our garden with a visitor.

Living In The Past

Sometimes it is good to look back and remember where we were

and what we were doing at a certain time.

This is what I am doing today with a couple of photos of Ron and I.

Quebec City, 1977.....this is Ron with our very good friend, Carolyn

(whom I had met at university).

It must have been very very warm that day......

Two years later, April 1980, at Whistler Mountain Ski Resort in British Columbia.

This was taken at the end of the day when we didn't know up from down......

we were so tired.....that is me in the red sweater.

Good to go back a take a peek every now and then,

if only for a few chuckles.

Up With The Birds

Sophie and I were at the beach by 7:30 AM yesterday morning.

She was shocked when I proposed the idea to her.....

she kind of gave me this vague look of wondering what was up!

We don't usually go to the beach this early.

We found that the beach was mostly covered in rocks which can be tough to navigate.

So we headed up to the trail in the dune grass area

and Sophie led the way, being very alert as usual.

The temperature was about 10C/50F, so it was bearable.

We headed down to the other end of the beach where I could see some sand.

Sophie took advantage of this and started to run up and down the sandy area after the ball.

She also had a few dips in ocean.

By 8:30 we were heading back along another trail towards the car.

It was time for both of us to have breakfast.

What To Do First!!

Everything is popping up so quickly in the garden 

that Ron can't get to it fast enough to 'record' what he finds.

Sometimes he bends over backwards to get what he wants.

And of course, Sophie never leaves his side.

Contemplative Monday

The following is from 'The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh' (click to learn more)

and published by 'Shambhala Pocket Classics'.

THE PEACEFUL REVOLUTION

"Sometimes someone we love----our child, our spouse, or our parent----

says or does something cruel and we suffer and get angry.

We think it is only we who suffer.

But the other person is suffering as well.

If he wasn't suffering, he wouldn't have spoken or acted out of anger.

The person we love doesn't know a way out of his suffering."

Eclectic Tastes

I remember the afternoon I first heard this piece on radio in my car
on my way home from school/teaching many years ago.

It left an indelible print on my soul.

Take a listen and have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Saturday Morning Post

Have a seat and take a look at my past week:

'Found' these very old oak chairs which will find their way into the shop soon.

They were made in Gardner, Massachusetts, in the 30's I believe.

Surfer on MacDonald Hill checking out the surf from the top.

He quickly turned around when he saw it was a calm day out there.

The sun was pouring in on this English Ivy last evening in the kitchen.

It does so well in this north-facing window

and also maybe due to all the leftover tea and coffee I feed it.

Last Sunday I visited Dad and found he was attending Mass when I arrived.

So I went to the Halifax Public Gardens for a while which is very close 

to the veteran's hospital.

Here is a close-up.

Back on the Hill....Sophie doing what she does best!

A mother and son enjoying the spring weather

and a paddle-boarder too, I see.

Sophie taking a dip in Lake Banook.

This little fella survived the winter tucked under the Dogwood Tree.

Beautiful Dandelions.

Reflections in the pond at the Public Gardens.

RDT....Ronald Douglas Troke.

The Daffs are in full bloom.