IT'S WHAT DAD'S DO

This pic always makes me snigger. We were at Pioneer Creek Village (I think) and someone decided (probably me), that we should get one of those old time photos taken.

It was a very hot day as we waited in line for our turn. Finally we started trying on way too many outfits which, as you can clearly see from the picture, soon lost it's lustre. I could not find something that would fit so we made do and Sheldon clasped the back of my skirt to keep it from falling off of me. 

What a happy bunch! Little Adrian was ready to bolt and Randi....those hands! 

Sheldon went along with this escapade. Cause it's what Dad's do. 

You Dads are just trying to keep the family safe, and fed and happy. You work to pay the bills and do your best. You make mistakes just like the rest of us but you carry on. You love your family.

Here is my Dad surrounded by a peck of hens. No wonder he's got a cigarette on hand! Four years later, thankfully, he finally got a bouncing baby boy. 

Sure, you can stick your grubby, dirty little fingers in my mouth, I don't mind. Cause it's what Dad's do (Sheldon with Adrian).

And let's not forget our Fur babies. They need love too!

Happy Father's Day to all your Dad's out there, trying to make everything right. 

Cause it's what Dad's do.

JUST TAKE YOUR TIME

I'm not sure why we live in such a fast paced world, always in a hurry, one eye on the clock, as late as Alice's rabbit. 

I was listening to the CBC After Dark show hosted by Odario Williams. If milk chocolate could talk, I'm pretty sure it would sound like Odario, part DJ, part poet. One time as his voice was soothing my soul, he said "Just Take Your Time."

Novel advice, but I took it to heart. 

"Slow down, you're moving too fast. You got to make the morning last." Simon and Garfunkel

Take your time with that morning coffee. 

Take your time watching the sunset

Summer is upon us and now is a good time to practice carving out how to take YOUR time. Maybe it's time to reassess all those commitments and tasks. Maybe it's time to say "No". 

Find the time to breathe, the time to think, the time to rest.

Speed Kills.

Just Take Your Time.

THE ACCIDENTAL GARDENER

It's that time again, time for me to ramble on about gardening. I'm sure a post about bicycling will soon follow!

As I do every year, I take a couple of days off work and really get my hands into the dirt. Even after 14 years of working in the same garden, I still feel like I'm stumbling along, an accidental gardener.

I potted this rhododendron and it has not disappointed!

My garden is a well established perennial which means it shows up every year of it's own accord. It also means I need to weed out and trim back the more boisterous plants or they just take over. I've always been a bit nervous about this but I really went at my lily of the valley.

Check out the carnage from this accident scene! I love them but they were really getting carried away. 

Figured I might as well help myself to the leftovers!

Violets too, are party animals. Fortunately they are like easy going hippies. You can pull them out easily enough and they are like "sorry dude, didn't know I was in your space." I pulled out a lot of them to make room for a new venture: strawberries, raspberries and brussel sprouts! Here are my baby strawberry bushes and I can already see a few little baby berries.

After careful choosing at the garden centre, I arranged some of my pots. Here's this year's selection:

The garden as always, teaches me life lessons, like you need to sometimes root out things in your life to make room for others to grow and breathe. 

So, I stumble along hoping for the best not only in life but in the garden. Here's to happy accidentals. 

AND YOU MAY ASK YOURSELF....WELL, HOW DID I GET HERE?

Is that title ringing any bells? Can you name that tune? If you are stumped, it's "Once in a Lifetime" by the Talking Heads. Showed up on your radio in 1980.

Personally, I'm asking myself that question often, about once a week.

How did I get here?

Yesterday, my baby boy, the last child I ever birthed, turned 27. That's right...I said 27.  The very same age I was on a beautiful spring morning when he showed up on earth. 

Things are a little fuzzy here, but I'm guessing he is 2 in this pic. 

Suddenly and without even asking, he was 4 and my firstborn turned 7. 

BOOM! All grown up.

This morning I realized I'm turning 55 this year. I was shocked!

Counted on my fingers about 3 times then did the math manually to double check. Yup, definitely turning 55.

Honestly I don't know how I got here. How did I zoom through more than half of my life in what seems like a nano-second? I've raised two children plus a gaggle of others. I've been working since I was 13. I've been married (here comes another shocker) for 32 years next month. 

I can say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, I've been blessed. I'm keenly aware not everyone on this planet gets such a longstanding bonus. My life has been filled with good things and joys, a sprinkling of pain and grief. 

I'm not sure how I got here. But let me say, Thank You. My cup is full. 

A GOOD WAY TO SPEND A RAINY DAY

We Canadians have made it to the Victoria long weekend. It officially kicks winter out, sets summer up and sends campers out.

I woke up in time to watch the Royal Wedding in blissfully blue-skied England. But alas, here in Ontario it was rainy - Really Rainy, like a serious drenching. 

That removed all guilt I had about spending time in the garden and Sheldon and I went off for a Food Tour in Kingston. It was a good way to spend a Rainy Day.

Umbrellas in hand, we met up with our group and peppy tour guide Jess. 

Let the walking and eating begin!

Our first stop was Dianne's Fish Shack and Smoke House where they warmed us up with a Margarita and Fish Taco.

We were off to a good start!

Jess kept the group moving and provided a wealth of information about historical Kingston along with inside tidbits on all our stops. 

Anybody whose ever been to Kingston has quite likely been to Pan Chancho Bakery but this time we were allowed into the back beside the monstrous oven. We each had a bite of Maple Chomeur, like a maple pound cake, and fresh bread topped with meat, a spicy mustard and fresh cheese.  Better start pacing myself.

We stopped at Atomica Pizza for a Donair inspired pizza and a local craft beer from MacKinnon Brothers.

What? Still hungry? (Not), but the food keeps coming! We head to Olivea for a yummy morsel of Gnocchi with beef ragu, truffle and shaved parmesan.

General Brock himself in complete regalia, met us inside General Brock's Commissary where we nibbled on local cheese, fudge and seasoned meat. 

We headed to the Kingston Olive Oil Company where we sampled olive oils and balsamic vinegars of all types. I could, and did, spend a lot of money here. 

Umbrellas up, we headed to Tango Nuevo for Sioux pastry with an Olive tapenade.

Next up was the Common Market, a great little meeting place where you instantly feel welcomed.

They warmed the cockles of my heart with a piping hot shot of coffee.

Our last stop was Mio Gelato where they cleaned up our palettes with a strawberry sorbet. 

I was damp and wet but my tummy was warm and full. 

I highly recommend the tour, it was informative, fun and delicious. You can find them at www.kingstonfoodtours.ca

It's a good way to spend a day, rainy or not!

SAW THAT ONE COMING

Right in the middle of downtown Vancouver I watched a young Asian couple in a dramatic moment. Seems they were having a tiff and next thing I know, he is on his knees, begging, right in the middle of the sidewalk, for her to stay. She turns away, indifferent. That's cold baby.  And I wonder, did he see that one coming?

There are moments in our lives we don't see coming. That sudden change: a phone call, an accident, a connection with another soul from a chance meeting. Call it fate or timing, your life is never going to be the same.

But then, there are some we do see coming. We anticipate them, think about how we will react, how our lives will change. 

It's Mother's Day today and I spent the afternoon with family including my Mom and my daughter, now 30 weeks pregnant. 

I'm soon going to have a grandson and my life will change. I can see this one coming!

That's my Mom with my sisters and I ( on her lap) on a camping trip. Probably in the mid-1960s. She is an amazing Mother who dealt with difficult teenage girls and heartache when she lost my sister Heidi to cancer. Some of these she probably did not see coming. 

But she taught me a lot about being a mother so when my time came I would have a bit of heads up around the whole process.

So, here we are, nearly 50 years later 

My daughter gets to take on the mysterious role of motherhood, I get to try my hand as a Grandmother and my amazing mother steps up to Great Grandmother. The circle of life continues. There will be things ahead that take us by surprise.

And then there will be many like joy and sorrow, love and loss that we will say: Saw that one coming. 

WHEN YOU'RE READY

I'm at the end of a one hour Hot Yoga class in what is referred to as "Shavasana" or corpse pose. 

It's hot in there, really, really HOT. So hot I'm sweating and I'm not a sweater. My upper lip and forehead are drippy and the small of my back is downright damp. The instructor in her soothing tones tells us to just lie there, like kids on their mats. 

"Feel yourself melting into the ground. Scan through your body from your toes to your head and relax, no tension held anywhere" (no problem - I'm a corpse right now). Now when you're ready,  roll over onto your side and sit up cross legged". 

When I'm ready? After one hour of Hot Yoga, I'm a melted mess of bones and skin. I do NOT want to roll over anywhere, I just want to make like a corpse right now. 

Eventually, and since everyone else is already sitting, I start to get this old bag of bones moving again. 

Later that day I'm starting work in the garden to see what's cooking. 

The Lily of the Valley are up and attem. I rake off the leaves to find little soldiers of growth everywhere. I spend the afternoon raking and bagging, uncovering all the new growth. With a little help (thanks Amanda, Randi, Dan and Sheldon) we get all the lawn furniture and fountain out and the gazebo up.  

I'm ready for Gelato! Nice Ice Baby Gelato!

Gardening and summertime, when you're ready, so am I. 

Life doesn't always push. Sometimes it waits until you're ready. Nothing happens until you make that decision or take that action. 

Like when you are exploring your faith. God is a gentlemen, he never busts the door down, He politely knocks until you open. Mind you, He is always hanging around, hoping you will start up a conversation or ask His help. 

He likes a fresh start, wants a new wineskin to pour in the new wine. 

So, When you're ready.......