May 25, 2011

Hummingbird visit!

An unexpected and certainly uninvited guest in my home.  I had gone out and down the steps for just a moment, leaving the door open. When I came back in, I saw a dark blur and rapidly flapping wings.  It finally settled on the top of the blind valance.

Poor thing. Obviously it flew in by mistake and was trapped. Its wee heart was beating in its chest and it kept opening its beak, gasping for air.

Before I could open the window screens and door, it started its frantic flight again.

It finally landed, once again in panic mode, on the blind cords. I quickly got all the screens & door open but it flew to the ceiling and then into a high corner. The photo doesn't show the lovely purple iridescence on the throat. Because of the separate streaks of purple I was able to identify this hummingbird as a male Calliope.

I used a piece or paper to try and direct it to the open door but it wanted to go the other way.  There…finally…it went towards the door…..and just missing the doorframe flew out!  I stood and watched as it soared up and up.  It seemed to be alright and once again safe.  Thanks for the visit little one.

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May 24, 2011

Nursery visit

I went to a different nursery to get the last of my few annuals.  What a pretty place and so very creative.

On the way there I passed this apple orchard in bloom.

I spotted this tree as I was turning a corner, not bad for a car photo!

I love the way they used this old bed frame.

On this 'bed' they are using empty soil bags as pillows

This pretty bird caught my eye!

Anyone care to see my etchings?

...and this is all I purchased. I think I have become jaded because of my Mexican garden, so very many choices and colors.

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May 23, 2011

It was a perfect day!

I just have to share my special day yesterday!

Caeli delivered the family card, taped to her collar!

Of course Carmeh had to check out what was happening!

I got this card via snail mail from my dearest friend whom I have known since the summer after grade 6! We met on a beach at a local lake near Edmonton. How apropos, perhaps that was the start of my love affair with beaches and water. Ena and I attended grade 7 - 12 together and then moved onto different paths in life. We have seen each other about 4 or 5 times since but always remember each others birthdays! It is very apparent that Ena's card shows how very well she knows me. Once again thanks to all of my friends who sent e-cards and called and my very special birthday song in French!

Rather than go out for diner I chose lunch at the lovely Guisachan House Restaurant, one of Kelowna's first mansions now a heritage building in the midst of beautiful gardens.

The owner is a world class chef and the to die for tomato basil soup and caeser salad would have been enough for me!

But then I had a shrimp fettucini!

While Colin dined on salmon pasta dish and was shocked at the size of his meal.

The dessert tray was too tempting to say no to.

For me it was the black forest mousse.....

...while Colin choose the strawberry mousse cake. All the desserts here are a mousse confection which is the perfect light touch after a meal.

A bit of a walk through the gardens.

It really was the perfect afternoon.....

We were just too full for another meal so we end the day with wine and appies for dinner relaxing in front of the TV watching the Donald's final Celebrity Apprentice show. I loved my birthday. Now back to reality.

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May 22, 2011

Feliz Cumpleanos!!

Two dozen fragrant roses just for me, sigh!

Bonne Fete a moi!!

Feliz Cumpleamos a yo!

Happy 58th Contessa!!

My life is great.  I have accomplished a good deal over the years.  I trained & worked as an RN, worked for Air Canada for over 13 years and worked for Colin Jewall Photos Studios Inc.  All of which have added to my life and helped create who I am.  I have always loved to travel, even before I was able to see the world compliments of working for an airline.  I have travelled from the very edge of the west coast of Canada as far east as Nova Scotia by car, train, RV and airplane.  We live in a wonderful country.  I have travelled to many many many states in the USA ( love Colorado & New Mexico ) by RV and airplane.  My most favorite of all, New York, New York!!  How many times have I been ( dozens ), I really can’t say other than not enough!  The life, the power, the energy of New York feeds my soul.  Not to mention the museums, the theatre, the opera and oh yes the shopping!  I have travelled to Hawaii ( dozens of times and to most of the islands ), Switzerland ( yes I actually skied there ), Paris ( the ambience is incredible and I just love the Metro & the Louvre ), London, Singapore, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Aruba, Antigua, Martinique, St. Martin, Barbados, Puerto Rico,  Jamaica, Bermuda, India –twice, ( most especially Jaipur & the Taj Mahal ), Malaysia and many many cruises and all the places they went to.  What do I love the most….

…Mexico of course.  Interestingly, I had never vacationed or flown there.  It wasn’t until we started RVING to Mexico over ten years ago that Mexico and the great country that it is became apart of our lives.  Perhaps I was getting the rest of the word out of the way so that I could spend more and more time with each passing year in Mexico.  We have done both coasts of Mexico as well as a great deal of Central Mexico.  We only discovered the Mazatlan area two winters ago and only because I needed to be near an airport for family reasons back in Canada.  Not exactly Mazatlan proper but the Isla de la Piedra.  Heaven on earth.  We thought that nothing was better than Acapulco, we were wrong.  So now I have the best of  both worlds, five months on the Isla, two weeks travelling to & fro and the rest here in Kelowna, the jewell of the Okanagan.  Yes we work here but it really is not an imposition when you live in Canada’s paradise.

What do I prefer, living in the RV of course, because that means no work and just play but life is a balance.  I have come close to death and right now to just be alive, to watch a bird fly past, to watch a flower grow and bloom, to get a kiss from one of my girls and to get the most loving hug from my husband…I have nothing wanting in my life.  I need nothing but to be alive, happy and in love with my husband and my life.

Surprise....two windmill palms that Colin purchased while in Vancouver as my very very special birthday gift. My own little piece of Mexico! They are suppose to be good to -15C so we hope to keep them for a very long time.

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May 21, 2011

Yard sale!

Here at Holiday Park there are a few yard sales throughout the summer and today was the first one.  Sometimes we participate and we do have lots of stuff to sell but decided to take this one off.  Too much energy.  So instead all four of us climbed in the golf cart and toured the park.  There must have been at least 50 places selling items.  With close to 800 sites here in the park it makes for a fun few hours.

Trying the chair, no not quite right for guitar! Look at the cute dog in the basket.

At the last place we checked I found my treasure. An RVer makes these during the winter, her own designs. So I now have an original for $10.00!.

Such detail.

I love the beads. I am a happy camper!

Yesterday was a perfect day with blue sky and a high of 25.8C.  Right now at 1:00PM it is only 22C and slightly overcast, a perfect day to plant our annuals and tomatoes!!  Enjoy your Saturday wherever you are.

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