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.

Thriving Thursday - Update on my plants

As promised from my last post about my new plants which I started last week, here's this weeks update.  They are still alive and some even have flowers.  I also noticed the iris that I got from my neighbor last fall, have started showing some buds which means maybe next week it will have some flowers.  Anyway, the other three plants that I can't even remember what they were, they look exactly the same as the day I planted them.  But at least they did not die. I tried to take the same photos from the last time so hopefully, you'll see the difference. Although it is not a big deal if you remember what I post, the fact that you are reading this one is good enough for me.  Thank you for stopping by. 

Petunia

Iris

Lupens

Marigold

Yellow marigold

More iris

Begonia

Tomato plants in the backyard.

Multiples Monday - Many Masks

One of my BFF from Ontario suggested that I sell the masks that I have been sewing. After I had made many masks for family and friends both in Canada and USA, she was convincing me that I should really try and sell them.  I had to really think about this because that means I will have to make more, many more sewing hours but at least I get a little bit of money from the materials and my labor of love. LOL.  For the past couple of weeks, I had a few small orders, sometimes 3, 4 or 6.  This weekend, my massage therapist asked if I was sewing home made reusable masks.  So I say yes but didn't know how many she would need. Yesterday, she told me they need 80 masks.  OMG, I need to hustle.  So if I don't post anything for a week, you will understand.  Since I don't have my MIL, who use to be my assistant for cutting fabrics, which she was so great at it, I have to do everything.  Not complaining, but they need the masks before the end of the month.  In the meantime, these are the latest collection which I thought were cute.