HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE

Wow! From Halloween to New Years and I'm just getting back to this blogging! Like we all say, "Where does the time go?"

I think one reason, I've delayed doing a new posting is because my iPhoto library is such a horrible mess, that I'm beyond figuring out how to search my way through the mess to fix it all, plus my attention span seems to get less each passing day. I don't know how I manage to get picture's I've taken a few weeks ago, scattered into different albums, folders and some folders from years ago!

Maybe if I start this new blog now, it will be out in time for New Years day.

Well...after typing this last sentence, I went to add some photo's and ended up spending nearly 2 hours trying to split events and sort dates. Horrid task, that if I set my mind to it will take me hours and hours, so instead of bringing the blog up to date from Halloween, I'm going to go backwards from today, make this blog short as I can and promise to work away at the pictures, so, I can show you what is new. However, thinking about it...there isn't much of anything to report!! 

Weather...everyone mentions the weather, so I'll tell you in West Vancouver, is the friggin pits! Nothing but rain, rain, and more rain. I can't remember the last sunny day in ages.

My walking has gone downhill... not meaning, I'm walking downhill, it means, I'm not walking hardly at all, and it's my weight that's climbing UPHILL on the scales! Rain is the culprit! Pretty good excuse eh? But, I'm not like Gene Kelly and enjoying the rain. (Some people will remember Gene Kelly).

It's become a game of getting out, doing the 5 miles and getting home again, before the next downfall. Usually, I manage some of the walk. 

We did see Santa one day at the mall and because they didn't have little kids lined up, we decided we'd better take the chance to get our requests in. Notice, I never sat on Santa's knee! Knee replacements are so painful and because of my weight gain, and this was St. Nick knee, I didn't dare get into his naughty book!

 Tom however, kept Santa busy with his list, and look at Santa's face! I think he's saying "Are you kidding, I don't think so...

Little girl, come get your husband!"

 Dundarave always has about two dozen trees all decorated just after the sea wall. It's a beautiful sight with really lovely decorations, that I'm amazed never get snatched up by Grinch's, but they don't. I was tempted, but I didn't!

I bent over to pick up one decoration that had fallen to the ground to place it back on the tree, and I could feel eyes on me from somewhere, so the decoration police probably had a camera hidden somewhere. So, as I walked away, I stuck my hands out in the air to show them empty! Goodness, why did I feel such guilt...I'm not a thief!  Well...maybe some pens and pencils from my working days. There Ron, if you are reading this...I confess one or two or three went home with me! Whew...got that guilt off my chest!

 This one below, was all jewels and SOOO beautiful and so tempting! Isn't it amazing how honest the West Vancouver people are! You can tell with my thoughts, that I'm an import!

 Aghhhhh, another beauty!

A rare day when we had sunshine. Taken on my homeward walk from Dundarave. See the Lion's Gate Bridge in the distance, and Mt. Baker in Washington. The sky doesn't look too promising though!

Horseshoe Bay where I was hunting down some moccasins from Santa. Loved the sun on the mountain and couldn't resist taking a picture.

 A Mermaid popped up to say hello!

Darn, I'm now having problems getting to my photo files from here, so I'll finish this blog off and will try again soon.

At least you know, I'm still alive and well, and will admit at closing off this blog forever and ever, but, I guess, I'm not finished with it yet. It encourages me to keep at it with your kind comments and queries as to where the thing is!

See you soon, and hopefully tomorrow.

STUFF

Stuff! That’s all I have to write about, just stuff!!  The picture above was taken last week on one of our many little strolls. That’s Tom standing reading a sign or something.

Since then, Tom had his hernia repaired yesterday and already he’s feeling much better without the terrible pain he had. The post-surgery pain he say’s is much easier to deal with, so hopefully, he is on the mend! It’s been a terribly, difficult year for him, and a year of worry for me, so as time goes by, we can maybe get back to our normal lives instead of visiting doctor’s offices so much!

One thing about the hospital….usually there are scads of donated magazines in every nook and cranny of the hospital, but because of the H1N1, they have all been removed. I’ve heard they no longer have them in doctor’s office either. I’m now worried about the Library books and if they may end up closing down the Library if this virus, gets up to a mighty roar! I’d be lost without that place!!!

 

ABOVE and BELOW, are pictures of Horseshoe Bay, where I once lived in my other life! Also, where our Doctor’s office is. It’s a beautiful place on a nice day, but very cold and dreary when it’s not!

Because of two very kind people out there in cyber land, they were able to  help me  find some information of the family history I have been hunting for and had mentioned recently on the blog  I wanted to know when my Grandmother came to Canada, and on what ship, from Belfast to Quebec, with her 5 children to meet her husband. Thanks to Barbara who told me how to place a search and on what program and to Erin who had the program and looked up the information, I now have it that they came in 1924 on the Passenger Ship called The Caronia. Many thanks to Barbara and Erin.

It’s a beautiful day here in West Vancouver, a little cloudy, but very warm. I just wore a light sweater on my walk and it was very enjoyable, as I walked and hummed a little tune. I must have looked happy and contented, because many people smiled in a friendly way! Nothing makes you feel better then a smile!! However, now that I think of it, maybe they were concerned for me. I have a problem with “dry eyes”, meaning they “leak”, when I walk, making my eyes look red, like I’ve been crying. It’s so embarrassing as I walk along wiping away the tears dripping down my cheeks.

Oh well..it was a lovely walk, but I never stopped to take any pictures!! Better get on that eh?

FLOWERS FOR MY READERS

These are for you, my faithful readers, and those that just pass by for a quick look at something that popped up on Google. But these are for YOU!

Today was a  mostly uneventful Monday, except for a few things.

1. A wonderful person from France has been writing and helping beyond belief, with the Genealogy search for my father’s side of the family with scads of information. He’s friendly, extremely helpful and just a wonderful person, and thank God, he speaks and writes English! Thank you Fabrice for ALL your help, and I hope we pass back and forth not only letters of family but friendship as well.

2. We went to Horseshoe Bay to the doctors and all is well. We both live to see another day or two!  Just some problem in my shoulder’s, probably arthritis.

I took a few pictures on the way home  from Horseshoe Bay to Ambleside to share with you.

Above and Below is taken from the upper road out of Horseshoe Bay, looking down on the beautiful scenery.

How wonderful to own your own little island!!

Walking along the side of the road, I felt my heart do a few little skips as little unknown creature scurried out of my way, and rustled the grass I was walking in.

3. Tom and I went out for lunch and stopped into  our favourite spot, The Library for a little read of the newspapers.

4. I finished a wonderful book,The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent

So, if looking for something good to read, this is it!!

5. I had a good snooze

6. Made an easy dinner, and now soon going to head to my favourite spot.

That’s it….to the tub, my bath , a new book and a nice cup of hot water with lemon in it!!! Another good day that went by too quickly.