WHERE IS MY BLOG?

This little bird sat long enough beside me to take it's picture.

My poor old blog has really been neglected lately, and I'm afraid, I'm gradually losing interest in keeping it up. It's a ton of work and it's not like I'm even very busy, but interests come and go and this one is dwindling.

I doubt anyone out there is  reaching for a kleenex either!

But, I'll tell you about my fantastic, wonderful trip back to Ontario and post some pictures that I took of many special times. This blog may continue over a few days, as I took nearly 700 pictures of many of the highlights.

I spent two days in Toronto with my long time best friend that I hadn't seen in nearly 20 years. What a special time it was, but not nearly long enough! We've decided that because time is passing by so quickly that we'll make this a 4 day event every summer. Our tongues never stopped wagging and the laughter and giggling kept on going!

 Meet Janet from Manitoulin Island and flew in from Sudbury, Ontario, and I came from Vancouver and we arrived at our hotel 5 minutes apart from each other ! Great timing eh?

We've been friends since we we're very young, went through marriages, raising children, divorces, ups and downs and all the things in life that makes friends close.

She always had the ability to sense when something was going wrong in my life and she's either call or travel to see me in an instant for consoling, and bringing me back to my old mischief self in a hurry.

Now we have free phone calling and the internet so chat with each other a few times a week.

However, you will notice the little halo is only above MY head in the picture below!!!

Isn't she beautiful!!

This was a wonderful little find of a hotel, right downtown, called, "The Strathcona Hotel". Right across from the Royal York and Union Station, and easy access to the Subway. The price was VERY reasonable and comfortable and very clean. 

We'll be back next year for sure!

 This poor fellow looked sad and we tried to cheer him out!

 However, even acting sill, wouldn't cheer him up! Not a giggle out of him, but quite a few from us!!

Great restaurant beside our hotel, great food, good chats! 

 Back in Belleville

 Back with family!

Matthew, my oldest Grandson, a little tired after a HOT day at work!

 Beautiful Lisa, my oldest daughter.

 Bradley, my youngest Grandson.

 Mike (Lisa's other half) Mike gave me his car to use while I was home and also drove me to the airport, for which I'm VERY grateful!!

Trixie (watching the fish in the water)

 Barney (a Lapadoodle)

 Erica (Matt's cute girlfriend)

 Erin (my youngest beautiful daughter)

 Erin, Sarah, my youngest Granddaughter and Erica, my oldest Granddaughter!

 This is Gizmo, a very unique pet! They have a cat and a bird as well.

 This is the whole family in the Pipeband they all play in. It was Canada Day and HOT! (I didn't do a good job on my exposure's when taking pictures, they are all so dark!)

 Cute, aren't they!!!

Well, that's it with SOME of my family.Tomorrow, I'll  show you FRIENDS, MORE FAMILY and EVENTS and SCENES AROUND BELLEVILLE.

MEETING AN AUTHOR

Last week, Tom and I happened to be in the West Vancouver Library, (our hangout) and were enjoying a cup of fresh made coffee. Across from us, sat a lady, who commented on how good our coffee smelled. We began talking about other things and throughout our conversation, found we had interests in common! She is from Picton, Ontario, which is only about 3/4 of an hour away from Belleville, Ontario, where I lived and worked from 1975-2005 We have people we both know, some of the same interests, and just enjoyed each other’s conversation. We exchanged phone numbers and she called me the following Saturday to invite me to join her and some other friends for tea…..high tea, no less!! However, Tom and I had prior plans, so had to put it off for another time

Yesterday, an e-mail arrived, that she was going to call and true to her word, she called this morning and we decided, we’d meet over coffee at Starbucks. I think I found a new friend!! Conversation flowed freely and I hated to leave, but Tom was waiting for me and I’m sure she had other things to do as well.

Her name is Elizabeth Blakely, and I knew that she was a published author from our talk at the Library. Today, she brought 3 of her books to show me.

She is certainly into varied topics and all of her books are very different. Her book, “The Original The incredible Potato” full of healthy cooking with a comprehensive knowledge of nutrition is quite interesting, with delicious, yet simple recipes. As I flip through the book, I ….who hate to cook, feels like cooking!! I find there are so many different types of potato’s on the market now, that, I’m lost as to which kind is best for certain types of cooking. This book solves my problems!! She wrote this book under a different pen name as shown below.

Her next book (I’m not sure in which order she wrote them), is called (Garbage and Flowers.. My Year’s Sojourn in the Holy Land) which as on the cover says, Chronicles of the Mind and Emotions. Multi-dimensional Journeys and a Travelogue. It’s a thick book and I love stories of other places, so anxious to start reading of her adventures.

Her last book for the moment is called “Wake” A Spiritual Primer.

I can’t tell you much about this last book, as I don’t have it here, just the other two, one I bought, one she gave me as a lovely gift.

So, if anyone out there would like to contact Elizabeth, her website is:

http://ascensionelizabeth.tripod.com

She’s a busy lady these days as she just moved from Ontario to West Vancouver, found herself an apartment and is moving in March 1st. This Friday, she writes her Real Estate exam, which I wish her luck with.

So, I hope it’s the beginning of a great friendship!

Well, that’s my blog tonight, I keep getting a huge cramp down my left leg which feels like a monstrous knot, on the back of my lower leg….OUCH…I need to walk and not sit!! So with that…have a good night!!! While I scream in pain!!!!