About Me

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I am a married woman with children out of the home now developing my own interests, hobbies making my way through the heat of the experiences and days of my life. (Click on pictures to enlarge.)

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Saturday, January 31, 2009

25 Random Facts about Me.

1. I love sleeping in but don't do it as much as I would like
2. Can not start a day without coffee.
3. I hate drinking water but am liking the ginger water Jim makes me.
4. I like watching Survivor over at Sally's house more for the company and the cameraderie.
5. I can't go to sleep at night unless I read a bit of whatever book I have. The day is not complete without that.
6. I wish Mark would win the lottery just to see the expression on his face.
7. I am not as fearless as I used to be. Some things scare me now.
8. I just wish everyone could get along.
9. I love bacon and eggs for breakfast. I'd share my bacon with Dad again if I could.
10. I like Opera music. Never did before but I am liking it now.
11. I love long walks on sunny days.
12. I hate snow. Everything especially driving in it. Give me rain any day.
13. I love salty food over sweet food. Give me a bag of chips any day.
14. I like a little bit of alone time each day. Driving to and from work is good alone time. Thinking time.
15. I don't think I am a list person. 25 things is hard to do!
16. I miss Eric.
17. I hate washing cars and my car so needs a bath.
18. I get motion sick watching video games so I don't like playing them. I am enjoying Scrabble with my uncle though.
19. I love taking pictures. I wish I could figure out Photoshop faster.
20. I would like my kids to ask me all the questions I never got to ask my Mom.
21. I love my date days with my bear. Any day spent with him is a good day. He is my best friend.
22. I love cool weather and not cold, I love warm weather and not hot. Love spring and fall for that!
23. I love Chick Flick movies. Mushier the better. I don't like Horror movies.
24. I love red wine and not strictly for medicinal purposes!
25. I don't know anything other than turning on and off my computer. My bear is my tecchie. Without him this would be a big paperweight.

I am not a list person, I found it hard to find 25 things about myself. So I am challenging anyone who happens to read my list to please fill out thier own list and come back and let me know so I can come and get to know you a bit better. And please leave me a comment back to let me know. Have fun.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

A Special Gift

Meet my Mom!!
My mom has been gone now for the past 16 years and even though it has been a long time the memories are there and every now and then something or someone can bring them to the surface.
Usually its something like a certain day or a holiday which she is not here for. Her birthday, my birthday or a holiday like Christmas. Mom was a great cook. Cooking was something she got into more after she retired and had the time to peruse those Bon apetit books that scattered all around her house. When we went to visit all we had to do was say what it was we felt like eating and a memorable meal was on the table. This is one of her baby pictures. I can see a bit of me in this picture, I can see my daughter.
Its funny how history kind of repeats itself. We all probably have pictures of ourselves in same poses as those photos we find of our parents!!

I don't have far to wonder where my love of certain things came from. Mom loved taking pictures and I inherited one of her cameras when she passed away. I loved looking through her photo albums of all the places she travelled to and seeing other worlds I have not been to through her eyes. She had a beautiful garden on the side of a hillside overlooking the ocean and I learned my love of flowers there.
This picture is my Uncle's Norman and Robert with Mom. I would of laughed too to see my Uncle Bob with that nose!!
This picture has to be my favorite. I would love to know what she laughed at, what she was seeing in this picture that brought the smile to her face. I cannot help smiling just looking at it.
It reminds me that even though I knew a lot of my Mom, really there were probably more things I did not get to know. I wish I had asked the questions, listened for the answers more, been less eager to leave all the nest behind and instead pulled up a chair and had a good laugh or two more with her. If I knew then what I would one day miss I might of done just that.
I miss my Mom tonight and I am ever grateful to my Uncle Bob who sent me these gifts, these pictures tonight.
This gift means the world to me.




Tuesday, January 27, 2009

FOR TODAY (Jan. 27)
Outside my window...I am watching the snow fall. Its beautiful and its white and fluffy and it is supposed to be rain!!

I am thinking...of what my next word is going to be on my online game of Scrabble with my uncle. I can sure tell he has been practising, he is a lot better at this than I seem to be!!

I am thankful for...This computer that is keeping me in touch with people like my uncle whom I don't get to see but through the computer can keep in touch with him and play a game or two!

From the kitchen...I just cleaned up the remnants of lunch which actually was the remnants from supper last night. Just some pizza but I think pizza is even better the next day cold.

I am wearing...My really plush white terry cloth robe and my fur lined moccasins. I have not even got dressed for the day yet!

I am creating...some Scrabbulous memories!!

I am going...to go later on today and watch Oprah on TV and walk on the treadmill for my daily shot of exercise.

I am reading...The second book of the Twilight series. So far so good!!

I am hoping...It quits snowing soon and clears up. Spring has to be around the corner.

I am hearing...the soft sounds of a Audio Book my hubby is listening to right now.

Around the house...All is quiet and calm.

One of my favorite things...Is being safe at home and not out on the slippery roads when the weather is as white as it is now.

A few plans for the rest of the week:Hopefully to make it to work on Thursday.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...Its a cute picture that came in an e-mail today and I though it conveyed my winter snow blues sentiments very well. It made me smile anyways.

Go to http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com and see more entries to everyone's daybooks.

It is my first visit here, so hope I have done everything right. I'll give it a shot anyways!!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Today's Flowers

For Today's Flowers I have dug deep in my past archives to find these pictures of lilies. This was before photoshop and good cameras and any kind of knowlege about what I wanted a picture to show but I do love the colours here!
Lilies are hands down my favorite flower. There has got to be a god when you look into the face of a lily, don't you think!!
For more pictures of beautiful flowers, go to Today's Flowers and check it out!!
Enjoy!!


Thursday, January 22, 2009

I went one day last week to Heritage park about a half hour away from my home and took these pictures.It was the first sunny warm day we have had in a couple of weeks and the fog was mostly gone at this time of the day.
Here is Mount Baker in Washington. You can see a bit of fog still in the picture. Just to the left of Mount Baker are more of the Coastal Mountains.

I loved the varied colours of the trees and the shadows they cast against the blue in the sky here.
This is "The Grotto" a place of worship originally built in the early 1900's by the Jesuits. It was recently restored to its original form and today is used for religious services and weddings, pictures etc. I love the blue sky behind!!
http://skyley.blogspot.com/ Go to http://skyley.blogspot.com/ to see wonderful pictures of skies from around the world.



Monday, January 19, 2009

Happy Birthday to my little bro!!!

Happy Birthday to my little brother Brian!! I can't believe this is the only picture I have of him and I had to steal it off his Facebook page. What is with that?? Next time he shows up here I am going to be taking some pictures whether he likes it or not. Brian turns the big 50 today. Its a milestone birthday for him and he and my other brother are going out for Chinese food tonight at thier favorite Victoria chinese restaurant. I sure wish I could be there.
Brian is a wonderful chef. He is a good cook as they say. He makes it look so easy too.
I guess he could cook his birthday dinner but why should he? Its nice to go out.
I'll phone him later and sing very off key in his one good ear the words of the Happy Birthday song and ask him if he remembers how old he is now!! Just to tease him!! That is what sisters do.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Interview with Dlyn!!!

Dlyn sent me some questions to answer!!
So, here goes Interview #2:

1. We share a love of flowers - do you have a favorite flower? One that makes you feel good just to see it?
My favorite flowers are lilies. I love them all. I can't grow them worth a darn but I sure like them. I like the different ones like Chocolate lilies and the deeper the colour the bigger my smile. I love the scent of lilies as well. A close second for favorite flowers are roses. Big tea roses with big scents. And I wait all year for the two weeks that lilacs show thier blooms. They are gone so fast.

2. We originally met on a Low Carb board - do you still low carb?
I actually have not low-carbed such as Atkin's diet in a long time. I did lose some weight with Atkin's but I really hated the side effects of it. Such as the stinky side effects if you know what I mean. Besides I really love pasta and I missed it. Now I try to follow the Core plan of Weight Watchers. It allows me my one carb-type food of the day and as well fruit which I love. Though it advocates all the fat free stuff which I don't necessarily follow. I think a little bit of fat makes the food taste so much better, its worth the extra bit of calories it costs me.

3. You take beautiful photographs - what kind of camera do you use?
A year ago after my car accident when I was going mental from not being able to do anything, my hubby went out and bought me a Sony Cyber-Shot point and shoot camera and told me to go sit on a park bench somewhere, rest up and take some pictures. I had never been into photography before and it was the best gift at the time he could of given me. I loved it. I learned it fast and then got frustrated because the things I was wanting to do would not work with the little camera so he gave me his tax return and I went out and bought myself a Nikon D80!! I have a 60mm. Micro lens and a 18-200mm. zoom lens to go with it. I just got Photoshop which I am trying to teach myself. It is one steep learning curve I tell you!!

4. If you could anywhere in the world, with money being no object, where would you visit?
I would go to Australia and visit my relatives there. They came here last year for the first time in 20 years and we had a blast showing them around the city. But the visit was so short I would love to go there and spend some time.

5. Describe a perfect day.
A perfect day is a day off, sleeping in until I get up, lounging around in my cozy terry cloth robe. A couple cups of good coffee and a big breakfast, then hanging out for the day with my hubby, not having any plans just going wherever we end up going to. Coming home, watching a movie while we eat supper. A glass of wine or two to go with it. A good book to read when its time for bed again. That is exactly like today has been and it has been a perfect day!!

To anyone who visits I would love the opportunity to interview you, and get to know you a little bit as well. So here's the directions:
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions. And come back and leave me a note so I can check out your answers!!

Monday, January 12, 2009

My Interview with Kate (Country Girl)

This is a first for me to be interviewed by a fellow blogger!! Kate at Chronicles of a Country Girl sent me these questions so here goes with my answers!!

CG: 1) What has been your greatest achievement?

DEW:I would have to say it would be my kids. My daughter Lora and my son Eric. There were moments in their teens where I seriously wondered if I would survive, if they would survive or if I was even cut out for this mom stuff. They really tested the limits! Both turned out great. I can't imagine my life without them in it.

CG:2) I noticed from your Blogger profile that you are an avid reader. In your childhood, was there one single book that you fell in love with?

DEW: The one book I can think of was actually a series, The Borrowers. I loved those books and watched the movie as an adult but it did not match up to the memories I have of having read them. I am sure there are a few holes in my house that contain all the things I have "misplaced" over the years.

CG:3)Name one movie that you would watch over and over again?

DEW:The Notebook. I love that movie. I am such a sucker for chick flicks.

CG:4)It's obvious that photographing flowers is something you enjoy. Do you have any other hobbies?

DEW: I love walking. I used to love running but a few back/neck injuries later I cannot take the body jarring you get with running anymore. So walking comes in instead. I think I like it more, running you pass by interesting things too fast, whereas walking lets you see more of the world as you pass.

CG:5)What is your all-time absolutely favorite food?

DEW: My favorite meat has to be barbequed Spareribs. Slathered in lots of spicy sauce. My favorite dessert is Bread Pudding with Whiskey sauce. A close second would be Mincemeat Pie. I love all vegetables and fruits, cannot single one of those out as favorite. I love coffee and I would not turn down a nice glass of red wine.

I would love the opportunity to interview you, and get to know you a little bit as well.
So here's the directions:
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Thanks Kate for this opportunity!!
PS I love your blogs! I read them every day!!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Today's Flowers

Today's Flowers came from pictures I took last summer at a beautiful garden here in Vancouver called Sun Yet Sen Garden. These pictures are actually silk weavings of peony flowers and I thought you might enjoy seeing them as much as I did. Delicate detailed embroidery on panels of gossamer silk, all very beautiful and intricate.


These are a pleasure to look at in a season where everything is buried in snow!! Here the rain is keeping everything grey and gloomy. The earth is in hibernation.

To see more flowers from around the globe, go check out Today's Flowers!!



Saturday, January 10, 2009

Gym Day

I did it!! I finally broke my spell or whatever it was and got to the gym. From going three to four times a week to suddenly nothing for the past four weeks it was very hard to get past the block about going. I had every excuse in the book to not go each day and each day it just got harder and harder to even try to make myself go. I phoned my friend Kathie and asked her if she wanted to go, that was the only thing I am sure that got me out of the house today. If she had said no, who knows. And I knew too that all it was going to take was one time to break the spell.
Why do we have to be our own worst sabatogeur? Is that even a word? I have used every excuse in the book not to go such as the snow on the ground, the rain on the ground, the time of day or night, you name it when I put up the obstacles I can really keep the train of thought going.
I am going tomorrow afternoon as well. Now that I have started again, lets pray I can keep up the momentum!!!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Skywatch Friday

Our home area and surrounding countryside has been hit lately with lots of snow, more than is common for this neck of the woods. After a month of constant snow and record snowfalls, the temp warmed up and it started to rain. Now we are all under flood watch so I thought because my hubby and I went out searching for floodwaters I would post some of those with the sky today here for you all to see. Some areas still have a lot of snow that needs to melt.
It is a rainy gray sky day today as you can see. This field is not hit too bad with flood water.

This looks more like a lake than a field.

Heck, it even has waves!!

Another side of the road picture of a field today.
If you want to see some more great pictures of skies then please go to http://skyley.blogspot.com/ and check it out!!




Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Rain!!! Goodbye Snow!

Rain Rain,
Come and Stay,
Make all the snow
Go away!!!

It is pouring out finally just like the weatherman promised. I've been waiting days for it!! I am so done with this snow and ice it can all go down the drain!!
Just have to pray it does not flood.

Man, I have to get out my camera and dust it off. I miss it!

Friday, January 2, 2009

New Year here.

Why shouldn't the new year start with a fresh white coat of new snow?? Even if the weatherman has not predicted it.
So glad I did not have to drive to work today. So glad I made a mistake about my schedule yesterday and discovered upon going to work that in reality I actually had the day off today. I got to sleep in until 11am. Hard to believe but I think my white knuckle 90 minute drive home on a sheet of black ice took a lot of energy out of me. I am tired of the white stuff. I have not seen the grass in a month and that is very unusual here for the monsoon rain forest (Okay I exaggerate) I live in. This white stuff does not belong here.
I am counting the days until it warms up and starts to rain and rain and rain here again. I promise I won't complain about the rain. I promise!!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year!!

I sure hope this year rocks for you and for everyone!!