HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND?

I'm a little tired... a lot tired really. I sort of feel like this:

But things are looking up! I just finished working my last weekend (until further notice). I'm starting a new position soon and it's straight days, Monday to Friday.  There are things I will really miss about my present job, but working weekends is not one of them.

So, I had to start my mornings off right with a good strong cup of coffee. I take it to the garden so I can spend some time in prayer and prep.

Hey, if it's good enough for Jesus...I mean I'm not sure what the Garden of Gethsemane was like but mine is a good place to go for downtime and to refocus. 

And for lunch the skeleton crew of girls I worked with brought in quacamole and a spicy chicken dip with chips!  I made a snack of greek yogourt, fresh berries, granola and honey.

We ended up staying late both days due to last minute emergencies but I made it home in time for dinner and I have the next couple of days off. 

You may have not worked this past weekend like me but I hope yours was filled with good coffee, good food and maybe some time in a Garden to unwind. 

HE'S GOT THAT OLD CAT CHARM!

One of my coworkers got a new kitten recently and she's often posting pictures and videos of Facebook. Who wouldn't?? I mean it's a kitten! 

But I can't help but notice the energy. ZIP....ZOOM..POUNCE!! This little ball of fluff is bouncing!

Allow me to introduce Frodo:

I call him "Old Man Frodo". We got him when my daughter was in Grade 7 (she will soon be 29) and he is pushing over 17 years old now. There is no "ZIP...ZOOM...POUNCE" anymore. 

But he used to have all that vim, vigour and curiosity.

Just look at that adorable face!!

I mean both of them of course! 

Old Man Frodo takes the stairs, both up and down, one at a time.

His meow is either nothing, or a slight croak or sometimes he puts all his energy into it and sounds like he's completely forgot where he is and is lost. Underneath all that gorgeous fur is a frail and rather bony frame. I pick him up very gently now and put him down the same way.

He sleeps....a lot....

Or, when he goes outside, there is no chasing birds or stray leafs anymore.

He just lays on the sun warmed front step or on a hot day in the cool garden under the peonies and ponders the 8 lives he's lived. 

Frodo may not be a powerhouse anymore but he has that Old Cat Charm. 

And he STILL has the best paws in town!

You may have an adorable new kitten in your life and they are lots of fun. 

But these old cats, well, they have their charms as well. 

HAVE A GOOD DAY!

When I'm biking to work, I will pass by several Crossing Guards. One (my favourite) always yells
"Good Morning!"
Me, panting: "Morning!
"Have a Good Day!"
Me, still panting as I pedal by:"You Too!"

It's a lovely blessing to bestow on someone. And it's also the way she says it. It's more like "Have a GOOD Day!!" Like she really means to make it happen for you. Like let's just seal that one up and engrave it in stone.

I will often say that to Sheldon before I head to work. "Have a GOOD Day." But I often add "No surprises today." Because Sheldon and I have spent a lot of time in Emergency lately doing a lot of this:

And after a month, we really have no answers. He presents with a heart issue and the symptoms are long and tedious. But after the last 3 Emergency visits and a chat with a Cardiologist, they tell us there is nothing wrong with the old ticker.

I turn to my faith: "The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 4:5-7). 

The situation certainly "surpasses" all my understanding so now I rest in that Peace to keep watch. 

There are more tests pending and eventually we will get to the bottom of it. They switched his blood pressure medication and that seems to have settled a lot of side effects too. Here's hoping our visits to Emergency are coming to an end.

Have a GOOD day everyone....and I Crossing Guard mean it!

WHEN I'M AWAY, THE GARDEN WILL PLAY

May is a beautiful month - great for gardening! I usually take some time off each May to focus on my garden and give it some attention for the season ahead.

I took a week off alright - but not in my Garden. I went out West.

Sorry for ignoring you garden. I see you have been busy while I was away. 

I knew trouble was brewing when we pulled in to the drive last Saturday night to a veritable jungle in the front yard. The grass was growing in leaps and bounds.

I have a gravel path that circles around where I have a fountain. That was nearly annihilated by the grass. 

I spent a good hour on my hands and knees just pulling up weeds and grass trying to find the gravel underneath. I swear nature is as relentless as the Love of God - just keeps coming at ya. 

This mass of greenery are violets, taking over the world. I keep pulling them out to try and make room for these:

Not sure what they are, but they glow like little drops of moonlight at night.

So I'm taking the good with the bad. Although the grass and violets are scheming a victory everything else is also feeling mighty fine.

My hydrangea bush and peonies are also about to explode. 

And I finally got around to doing a couple of planters.

My garden carried on without me. In fact, if I ignored it all year, I'm pretty sure there would be quite a party going on. But I'm back now, restoring order and telling the violets to "simmer down." Here's to another year of back yard gardening ahead. 

Come on Garden, Let's Play!