Memories Monday - It's time to say goodbye

For the last eleven years, I have been writing poems in memory of my son.  But this year it is a little different.  I tried to write something and nothing was going right.  Instead I painted a rock and I placed it below the memorial tree, an dwarf Alberta spruce that we planted when we move to Vernon. This tree has been relocated to the backyard and I could see it directly from my sewing room.  There's no explanation that I can provide why I never could write a poem.  It doesn't mean I am not hurting anymore, it doesn't mean we have forgotten and definitely not because we don't miss him anymore. I am a little sad because I decided to quit blogging as of today.  

Sensational Saturday - An amazing garden

This past weekend we stopped by one of our neighbors home to check up on their amazing garden.  It was so luscious, beautifully decorated and such a healthy growing garden.  I took a lot of photos but only will share the best of what I have taken.  What the garden needed are pretty flags to show off the different sections of their front and back yard.  After I got home, I decided to be creative and sew a couple of garden flag for her.  This is the same lady that gave me a bunch of plants last year to add to our front garden.  A lot of work has been done by both husband and wife on their amazing garden. Check these beautiful collections.

This is the view from their backyard.

This garden flag is located in the front yard.

This is the second glad I made and she placed it on the side yard.

Summary Sunday - Trying it out

After the post about contemplating on quitting this blog, one of my BFF suggested that I just try and do only once a week post so it's not too stressful.  Trying to find new ideas and new topics is in fact a little too hard on my brain.  So I will try this out starting this week and today's post is just a collection of the flowers/plants that are growing, which is actually my updates on gardening.  Here's the latest photos from my garden.  As you can see, I haven't killed any of the new plants this year. LOL.

I thought maybe it's a bit overcrowded, but actually they look so healthy and pretty.

Can you believe they look so healthy?

Not really sure what these are but they bloom every year around this time.

These roses are just so pretty.

This is my mixed Kale plant.  I have harvested a couple of times and they are so yummy.

Finishing Friday - To quit or not to quit

How did I get started with blogging?  I think it was my daughter's suggestion to start so that my family and friends can follow me since I moved away from Canada.  It was the beginning of 2011, actually January was when I created my blog.  My daughter helped quite a bit at the start and then I just kept learning on my own.  I cannot believe that this is my 9th year and although I want to continue, I think I am running out of ideas.  During my last chat with my daughter, I seem to recall that she had stopped blogging after ten years.  Maybe that is the cut off time when people starts getting tired of writing post or starts running out of ideas.  So for the past few days, I have been contemplating on my decision with regards to my blog.  I don't have a lot of followers and the number of page views is really slowing down, so that is giving me the hint that maybe it is time.   Last week I also notice the Blogspot is changing the look of the their design and I am not sure if it's because it has been free for a very long time, and now if you want to keep the rest of your design, etc. that you will have to pay some sort of fee.  As most of the free apps, they are only free for a number of years and then they will start to charge some sort of a yearly fee or a membership.  If only I can hear your comments on whether to continue this or not, that might help with my decision. The problem is I really have not received any sort of comment for anyone for a very long time.  This confirms that maybe no one is actually reading this post except for a handful of my friends.  

Thirsty Tuesday - Sometimes I forget

It was a rainy weekend and luckily my plants enjoyed some of the fresh rain water.  Sometimes I do forget to water the plants.  Of course some are more hardy than others.  My hubby has to remind me to water them.  In fact he takes care of our indoor plants which is why they are doing really well.  Since I planted some new ones, I posted a few weeks ago that I will keep you posted on the growth of my new plants.  Last Friday I remembered to take some more pictures are there are some new blooms. 

My BFF master gardener told me the name of this plant and I forgot to write it down.

My hubby cut some of the dead parts and now they look healthy.

When I planted this marigold, I had one flower.

Not sure about these, I think maybe they are weeds.

Check out the length of these lupens and more are blooming.

Hopefully the pot will be filled with flowers.

I think this might get overcrowded in another week. 

These yellow iris are just blooming like crazy.

These are the iris that smells like bubblegum.

This plant has been there since we bought the house. It has these pretty yellow flowers.

System Sunday - Naming our appliances

What happens when you ran out of topic to talk about during breakfast?  Well, my mind starts to get busy and this morning this is what I have come up with.  Since we have some appliances that we have names for, I decided to name as much as I can for an hour.  And these are the results.

• Alexa - smart speaker by Amazon
• Aida - mixer by Kitchen Aid
• Azul - tablet by Kindle Fire
• Bam Bam - central vacuum by Beam
• Bibi - blender by Cuisinart
• Blue - tablet by Kindle Fire
• Consuelo - vacuum by 
• Cour D'les - Panasonic cordless iron
• Dot - White Echo dot by Amazon 
• Echo - Echo show by Amazon
• Frigga - Refrigerator by Frigidaire
• Hai Hai - TV by Haier
• Kiku - Coffee maker by Keurig
• Lil' Ida - Small chopper by Kitchen Aid
• May - Microwave by Maytag
• Procy - Food processor by 
• Puck - Black Echo dot by Amazon
• Ruby - Car by Ford
• Suzie - Sewing machine by Brother
• Sterling - Bathroom toilet bowl
• Tangerine - tablet by Kindle Fire
• Thor - Class A motor coach
• Wei Wa - Scale by Weight Watchers

Do you have a name for appliances, vehicles or toys in your home?  I am sure most of you do but maybe just not as many as the above.  

Wordy Wednesday - To make a long story short

When Twitter first came out, I contemplated on signing up but then I realized I can't be part of it because I don't know how to just write a few words.  You know that saying "to make a long story short", well I could not comply with that.  If I tell a story, it will always be the longer version.  Whether I am talking it out, or writing or texting, I can't seem to keep it short. That is the reason why I am not on Twitter nor Instagram.  So I opted instead to Blogging.  I have a lot of space to write and I can just keep writing. LOL.  But lately I had to write a protocol for the new volunteer position I am doing.  The first draft went quick but then I had to revised it for a second time as the document was way too wordy.  I had to keep it simple.  I also have to admit that although I can compose, I know that my grammar is not that great and I have to blame that on English is my second language.  Sometimes, I ask my hubby if I need to retake the ESL course.  Although when I first arrive in Canada, that course was not available in Yellowknife. When I moved to Ontario, that was the first time I heard about the ESL class for new immigrants. Anyway, now that I am not retired, I am do not require any writing skills. Of course I am sure that if you have been reading my blog, you would have probably provide some advise on writing a blog.  Interestingly enough, I have been blogging for over 10 years.  So far no one has commented about my post being too wordy.  But then, I don't have a lot of followers and most of them do not provide any comments.  Well this ended up to be a longer post than what I was thinking when I started.

Simple Sunday - Birthday Celebration during Covid

Due to the social distancing and all the restrictions of Covid, birthday celebrations are done so differently and so simple.  But it is possible to do something if you really want to follow and keep everybody safe.  So how did we do it.  Last week was my birthday and I decided to have a very small gathering in the backyard. We place some TV trays (2 each) on each corner of our deck.  The guests brought their own plates, cutlery, glasses and drinks.  One couple brought the salad, the other my birthday cake.  I made spring roll for appetizers and for our main dish, Thai Red Curry Shrimp, Satay Chicken with peanut sauce and steamed rice.  We shared stories, have a couple of toasts (for me , the neighborhood, and friendship). It was a perfect day, it was warm but not hot and the fact that it didn't rain was a real blessing.  I had received a lot of birthday cards, texts, emails and telephone calls.  So blessed that I was able to celebrate my birthday and had a bit of fun during these tough times for many people in Canada.  My hubby gave me a golf ball retriever, a set of fun socks and a couple of EOS lip balm. 

Aren't these socks cute?

The flower that bloomed on my birthday.

The cards from friends and family.

One of the text I received from my BFF.

Fairways Friday - Greens and Fairways

During the Memorial weekend in the USA, the Match (Golf) was on and I was able to record it but did not have enough time and it ended on the 17th hole.  It was such a nice treat to watch live golf again.  It's too bad the pairing was not Woods and Brady, and Michelson and Manning.  So I was torn because I love Tiger but not Payton and of course on the other side I love Tom but not Phil.  Anyway, the end result, Tiger won and even though Brady's team did not win, Tom had the play of the day when he had a nice iron shot on to the green and the ball rolled in the hole.  Yeah.  It was amazing how Tiger was playing in that rainy condition but he was always in the middle of the fairways.  That is one thing I learned from someone that when you are out there in the golf course, there are only two words you need to remember at all times - FAIRWAYS AND GREENS.  It doesn't work all the time but it's a good training in your head instead of maybe thinking of other hazards along the way.  A week ago, I decided to take a lesson from the PRO in my home course.  It has been over three years since I took a lesson.  So I thought I needed a little tune up.  I was very pleased that we don't have to correct too much with what I have.  Of course I am old so the body cannot do all that turning and all that power.  But one thing for sure that I can depend on is my drive (which is most of the time in the middle of the fairways) and my putt (two putt or less).  Where I struggle is the fairway woods and the irons, which is what my lessons will be concentrating on.  Hopefully after two lessons I will be able to apply what I have learned and not screw up what I have been depending on.  Last year I play with my BFF from Kelowna who works as a starter at one of the nicest course in that area.  Our 4th person was her neighbor and it was so funny that by the end of the 3rd hole, he said to me, "I have a new nickname for you, MRS. Fairways".  Then when we were visiting our friends back in San Jose, CA. I got a chance to play again with my golf buddies, and one of them gave me another nickname based on the previous story.  He said, your new nickname is " MRS. Always Fairways".  I just wish I could get more distance but for now I am happy with just being in the middle of the fairway.  

Welcoming Wednesday - New Flowers

Now that I started this weekly update on my new and old plants, I might as well continue and provide some update photos on some of the latest blooms.  Last year my neighbor gave us a few plants ( two types of iris and another couple of other grassy type).  At first I planted them in big pots but after speaking with my BFF who is a master gardener from Ontario, we took them out of their pots and planted them on the ground in the fall.  All of them survived the winter months and now in the spring, they have all come back to live.  Last week, I have noticed a bunch of them having blossoms.  And very interesting enough, the yellow and green leaves have bluish purple flower that smells like bubble gum.  While the green leaves have the yellow blooms.  By the way, one of the plant that I got this year is called Periwinkle.  I bought it because of the name, I planted it and then when the flower came out, I had to google it to see if it was actually my periwinkle.  LOL.  Now introducing all the new flowers.

Marker Monday - So cute

About a month ago I received a card from my MIL and inside there were at least 14 little fabric squares that is about 4" x 4". At first I was wondering why she sent it.  Maybe she thought I would be able to make something out of it.  I truly didn't  have any idea what I can use it so I just put it in my fabric basket for another day.  Since I have been busy sewing masks and then I got a new project to make a toddler sleeping bag (cotton fabric x 2), these tiny little square just got shove on the side.  But this weekend, while cleaning up my sewing room, I saw these squares again.  I seem to recall some type of bookmaker that maybe I could try.  All the squares were used and I made a total of five bookmarkers.  I decided to send a couple back to my MIL and I also send a couple of girlfriends, one each and I am keeping one for myself, in case I get back to reading books.  LOL.  

The zipper is at the bottom.  

Skins Saturday - Golf side game

Last week my golf buddy suggested that we do a little side bet for our golf game.  It is similar to the skins game that they play on the PGA, except our bet is only starting at a quarter.  The first time we did it, I won a toonie ($2.00 canadian).  The next day, I lost .50 cents.  So as you can see, it is not very much but it still fun and it makes you try to do better each hole.  My golf buddy, takes care of the scoring because, for some reason, I get an extra stroke on at least eight of the hardest hole out of the 18 holes.  As there are no gimmes and no mulligans, so the scores are real.  Because we play almost 4 days a week, we don't really keep score each time, but sometimes I do it just to see how my average is.  Last year we played a different game where he gives me a few strokes and we have to give a quarter for every stroke I am over his score.  As we go along, he started giving me less and less stroke, as I improve my game sometimes.  We are very lucky that we are able to get back into golf a little earlier than most of the area in British Columbia.  In addition to that, we are able to play just as a two some and do not have to play with other people.  Our course is like a big family of golfers, mostly members and regulars, so almost everybody knows each other.  I am very lucky to have joined this course and have met some some friendly golfers.  Not to forget the maintenance team truly takes care of the course.  My home course is Hillview Golf Course.