The Last in Line

We are one of the last to celebrate the New Year. Geographically speaking, I guess someone had to be, right? Even our cousins in Alberta get to party before us. There is only Greenland left to go. It's kind of good to be almost last, the race is over, you know what to expect, and there are no expectations. You get to enjoy yourself, knowing that there is no one left to impress with all the parties, the mad celebrations, the wild and crazy night, fireworks. You get to celebrate anyway you would like.

So with no expectations, I have some New Years Eve wishes for you.

I wish you Peace this year.

I wish you Love this year, in whatever form it may take.

And for those of you who GARDEN

I wish you bountiful crops, and perfect weather, and many, many, fine moments spent doing what you love the most in your Garden.

And to everyone, I raise my glass. May this upcoming year be a wonderful one for all of us.

Happy New Year!

Weather wonders?

Weather wise we had a bit of everything yesterday, BC style. Dark stormy skies, rain, snow, high winds, and finally sunshine. It was when the sun broke through the masses of dark grey cotton candy clouds that I headed off to the beach.

There were some of the regulars hanging around.

The winds were so high, they could knock you over, and if the waves felt like they were getting a little to close. It was because they were! There was a brisk wind, the sun shone, the whitecaps danced a watery ballet, it was glorious! I just wanted all you hardier folks to know that people from BC don't always complain about the weather. At least not all the time.

There is no place like home!

Gar and I spent Christmas Day in a rather different fashion, but we were glad to be able to have done it that way. We picked my Dad up at a Vancouver Hospital, and drove him to the Airport, and waited with him, until he made his flight. Up in the Okanagan, my sister, and BIL picked him up, and took him home. He suffered a heart attack earlier in the week, and was flown down in a Air Ambulance. Unfortunately they did not offer a return trip, and there were many worries about how to get him back, with the road conditions as poor as they were. I cannot thank the staff at West Jet enough, for their compassionate and caring attitudes. Every step of the way, they offered assistance, and reassurance. They allowed me to stay with my Dad all the way through security, and to the boarding gate where they took over and helped him onto the plane. Thank you West Jet, for all your help!

We are glad that it is over, because as you know, there is no place like home.

I'm in the Garden - Archives

Looking in the archives, I found some summery colors, fresh, and crisp flowers.

Incidentally, these are some of the first shots I ended up saving from my new Canon camera.

Have a great summer, ah, I mean winter day.

Is that whine, a Red or a White?

I overheard a coworker jokingly asking someone today if their whine was a Red or a White? More than likely they were discussing the snow troubles we have been having lately. For the first time in over 40 years, it was a virtually white Christmas all across Canada. We are talking the hard to shovel, wet and soppy white stuff here. I did hear about a few, bare spots, but they were merely tears in the big white downy quilt, that was covering the land of ice and snow. OHHHHHH Canada! Our home and snowy land! What have you done to us? Especially us on the West Coast? There is not a snow shovel or ice scraper to be found. De-Icer was a staple in Christmas stocking stuffers, and snow chains are the new "it" fashion item. Neighbour helping neighbour, sharing driveway clearing duty. Everyone joyfully disclaiming the weather, sharing their horror stories about the commute. Stores are running out of gloves, toques, and toboggans, while giddy shoppers stock up. Kids are laughing, as happy parents spend snowy days slipping and sliding with them. More people are getting their exercise walking to the stores, since their cars are buried under white marshmallow mounds of snow. Oh Canada! We might not be able to get around as easily as we are used to, but this might just be the reprieve we need from all the doom and gloom on the news. There seems to be a little bit less of recession, and a whole lot more about the good deeds that people are doing for each other. It is allowing us to show our indomitable Canadian spirit. And that might just be a really good thing.

Madame Z comes for Tea

She is just visiting........... don't put any ideas in my head! Her favorite activities, bird watching, eating, and sleeping. And not necessarily in that order. She likes to round us both up before meals, to make sure that we don't forget to feed her. She is a lovely visitor, and it is nice to have a kitty for the holidays.

The three bachelors dinner

Christmas is a special holiday for so many reasons. And for Gar and I, it is a anniversary of sorts. It is the day that we met, for the second time, and something just clicked.

There were 3 bachelors, and a me, the single girl at my Uncle's Christmas dinner. I don't know what was in the turkey that day, but within a year each one of us had gotten married. It had taken hours longer than usual to cook the turkey that day, as we later found out that a neighbouring grow op [what can I say, this is BC!] was using up all the available power. We had a great dinner, wonderful conversations, and............

gotta love a man, who helps you clean up after dinner.

Wishing you all, a very Merry Christmas! And to all a good night! Jen

Merry Christmas Eve

This must be Turf Toter's first Christmas. Notice the smug look on my face as I hold tight onto the poor kitty. I don't know who's eyes are bigger, Turf Toter's or the kitty. Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

Coastal Gardeners Report Strange Phenomenom

BC coastal gardeners are reporting seeing strange new, clear and hard, appendages hanging off of plants, during a recent cold snap. "This never happens here" one passerby was heard to remark. "The sky is falling, panic and call for help!" What is it? Questions abound in the gardening community. Copious amounts of the hard clear appendages are found hanging off of plants, trees, and even the eves of houses. Emergency crews have been called out to rescue plants that are covered in the translucent firm product but are unable to do anything but stare perplexedly at the plants. The clear appendages shatter when hit with a broom. Residents are being warned not to venture outdoors in their normal winter attire of shorts, and t-shirts. Instead they are being told to purchase gloves, and scarves. Reports are coming in of No Fat Soy Lattes, and Holiday Mocha's turning cold soon after being taken outside. Some residents have mentioning loss of feeling in toes after wearing flip flops. "All we can do is wait it out, I have heard of this before, I believe it is called Winter" one wise senior gardener is quoted as saying. Many have gathered to hear his amazing tales of snow, ice, and cold, while others scoff and say that his memory is faulty. Scientists say that a White Christmas on the Wet Coast would be as likely as the abominable snowman appearing in downtown White Rock. It appears that this time they may be wrong.

The HATED Brown Wool Dresses

My Mom bought Turf Toter and I, these matching brown wool dresses, we hated them!

To this day, I can't stand anything around my neck. And I still remember the scratchy, itchy feeling of that wool.

Turf Toter got the worst of the deal, she had to wear hers, and then when I outgrew mine, she had to wear that one also.

At least that is her version of the story.

She's the lovely brunette, and the baby was a new cousin.

I'm in the garden Archives

Remember?

Some Christmas shots for you to enjoy.

Christmas is coming up quickly, and I thought I would take this moment to post some more seasonal shots. Like everyone else, I am feeling the crunch, so maybe until I get a day off, it will just be some photos posted everyday. I'm reading your blogs whenever I get a spare moment, but between work, and life, and Christmas it is getting more and more difficult to keep up. But I don't want to miss what is going on, so if I am not commenting for a few days, now you know why. Looking forward to some free time, and enjoying the Christmas season! Jen.

Shhhhhh don't spoil the surprise!

My Mom and Dad, have everything you could possibly need, and we were wondering what could we give them for Christmas. So after racking our brains Gar and I decided to make them a custom printed calendar. We had a lot of my photos to choose from, over 7000, and had a great time picking them out, planning each month. We knew that Mom loves the beach, so we included a special sunrise from White Rock. For my Dad, there is a really cool shot of a painted lady.

For those of you that don't know, that is a butterfly!

All this was accomplished online, and I picked up the calendar the other day. Today I popped it in the mail at the post office, and it is on it's way.

Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad!

Hmmm, what to do?

Florishious made me a gorgeous scarf last year for Christmas, in luxurious shades of chartreuse and green, with cute little eyelash threads. I wear it all winter, it keeps me snugly warm, and I love it. When Turftoter visited this fall, she noticed the scarf and mentioned that she would love to have one in blue. And would I ask Florishious if she could make her one. Flowerishious surprised me with another scarf this Christmas, it is blue and speckled with hot pink, orange, and lime wool. I absolutely love it!!!! She told me that I could keep it or give it to Turftoter, and that is my dilemma

Do I give her the scarf or not? It is a hard decision. Who am I kidding! I'm keeping it!

NOT!

But it is gorgeous! I hope that one day she makes me one also.