Sorry September

For those of you who are still following my blog, thank you for understanding. I really thought that I posted something last month.  When I realized that I have missed two months, then I felt really bad. Now I will make it up by posting some really great crafts and yummy treats.  Can anyone believe that it's almost fall.  Well, technically the 21st of this month, right.  It had been a busy summer for us.  We were able to do a bunch of camping with friends.  We were very lucky to have such great friends who actually organize these camping days.  They have done the research as to which provincial park we will go and we all get on our computer two months in advance so we can get our campsite.  We were all very lucky to get what we wanted and when we get there, everyone is close by each other.  Anyway, enough words. Here's what I have done for the past couple of months. Hope you enjoy these pictures.

A variety of bars that I have made for a get together.

A very yummy lemon pudding cake.

Our friend left this for us and we re upholstered it.

We decided to this one as well as the leather had a hole.

TURON, a Filipino treat with bananas, jackfruit and honey drizzle and toasted sesame.

My very first blueberry almond scones. It's a bit flat but still yummy.

My one and only day lily in our front yard.

My very first Hydrangea flowers that last for a month. Sadly, it's dead now.

I painted these bottles for one of our friends for their outdoor kitchen.

This set was for another of our friends for her bathroom decor.

The pillow dress I sewed for the daughter of my massage therapist.

Also for the same girl.

Gone too soon...

Fourteen years ago was the saddest day of my life.  Sometimes I just want to forget that something did happen to my son.  I still do not understand how I did not see the signs.  Most of the time I blame myself because maybe I was too busy and did not pay attention.  What kind of a mother am I?  How could I let something like that happen to my only son.  But after these many years, I still ask myself a lot of questions and to this day, I still do not have an answer.  Although I understand that one cannot grieve forever and that pain does lessen with time, I still wonder why?

Yesterday I was reading a book, and on page 12 there was the following quote..

Life must go on, if only for the sake of those who are left,

and, what is more, it is our duty to learn to enjoy it again.

For what do we regret for those untimely death, but the

opportunity to live with enjoyment? If we are able to give

proper meaning and honor to their death, and our grief,

we must enjoy the life we, and not they, are privileged to have.

June 29, 2008 

"You have left my life, but you will never leave my heart".

I can't believe it's almost June

 While visiting the USA last month, one of my friends ask me about blogging.  I told them that I am only doing it once a month.  So today, I decided to do one ahead for the month of June.  Haha, I haven't done a post since last year aka December 2021. Now this is a catch all of different topics that might interest my followers, is there anyone actually still checking this blog.  I hope so.  Just a quick recap.  January was cold. February, a lot of snow arrived and did not leave.  March it seems like we are going to get an early Spring.  By the middle of the month, I was out on the golf course with five layers of clothing but I was golfing.  April was hit and miss between sunny and rainy.  We decided to take our RV and head south.  We visited family and friends in Washington, Oregon and California.  I was lucky to get a chance to golf at least six times with old golf buddies (not old as in age but previous golf buddies).  We ate quite a bit of a variety of food and of course gained 3 pounds each. We returned to Canada and the weather was not as nice as in the US which was between 20 to 30 C.  But I am back to my very busy schedule.  Now I would like to share some photos I had collected during the last 5 months.  Thanks for stopping and hopefully you enjoyed this months post.

A beautiful sunset - a view from our living room - middle of January.

Also at the golf course, hole # 10

First week of April at the golf course.

Donut twist from Yum Yum Donut, San Jose, CA

A new favorite snack but not in Canada

Shrimp tacos for lunch at a Mexican place

Also from my friends garden.

From Phil's restaurant in Monterey, CA

From my friends garden in Monterey, CA

This season outdoor pot.

Happy Holidays

 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  All the neighborhood are decorated and well lit.  The music on the radio has been playing a lot of my favorite holiday classics.  Which one, you might ask.  "All I want for Christmas is you" and of course the good old, "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas".  I started baking a couple of weeks ago and I am not done as I would like to share some of my baking to some of my neighbors, the garbage and recycling man and the nice lady at the post office at Shopper's.  Anyway, I wish everyone a very merry berry Christmas and a healthy but happy new year!

Cranberry Walnut Artisan Bread (no knead)

Lime macarons with purple yam cream cheese filling

Apple and Pear Tart

Kitchen towel for a friend's birthday

Almond Lace Cookies

Campfire set for a friend's son who is crazy about camping.

The S'MORES to go along with the set.

Our front year decoration. Rudolph is new this year.

My Christmas Flag which I made over 5 years ago.

Lemon Poppy Seeds Muffins with Lemon Rumchatta Glaze.

Overjoyed October

There were a few words that I could have used for this month but I opted to use OVERJOYED.  Why, you might ask?  Last week since the weather has been getting very cold, I decided that my last round of golf would be October 21.  Technically the golf course does not close for the season until October 31, but due to the weather condition, I had to cut it a week in advance.  I am overjoyed because I was able to complete 108 rounds of golf which began on March 17 this year.  We are very fortunate to be able to golf early but due to natural reason, some of the days were either too too hot (45 degrees celcius) or too too smoky due to all the fires in our area. One time I read in the news paper (that's right we still receive a weekly paper in our next of the woods) that if you go out during the smoky days, an hour outdoors is like smoking cigarettes.  It's was so bad we couldn't see beyond the house across the street.  I actually almost forgot that I was still blogging and couldn't remember if I had done a post for October.  Well, I have a few more days before the end of the month, so here this is my post for this month.  There are a few photos that I wanted to share.  Thank you to those who are still reading or following my blog.  I can't believe that I have been doing this for 10 years.  I really thought I was going to quit but I change my mind and only doing it once a month.   

One of our neighbor has this pear tree in front of their home.

It is so nice to see the Kalamaka Lake without all that smoke.

Definitely a sign of autumn,

A beautiful sunset from our living room window.

Some portuguese tarts and cassava with macapuno squares.

A friend of hours gave this to me this month and it had 4 blooms - now it has 9.

September Sadness

During our walk today, there were so many signs that autumn is just around the corner.  Technically, I think that the 22nd of this month is the beginning of fall.  That also means that after three months, our winter in Canada begins.  Then why is it sad.  I can make a long list but I don't have the space so I will do the top 10 of why September makes me sad.  

1.  Golf season ends sometime in October unless the snow arrives early.
2.  All the plants starts drying and dying.
3.  Our daily walks will be less as I don't walk when there's snow.
4.  The RV's registration ended on September 17 which means no more glamping.
5.  We already took down the big umbrella from our patio.
6.  The outdoor furnitures are now stored indoor.
7.  My light spring/summer jackets are putt away.
8.  My winter coats/hats/toque/gloves/boots are all ready for use.
9.  I have started making soups for the winter months.
10.  No more outdoor get togethers with our neighbors (our bubble).

Although the above are the sadness part, check out these beautiful photos I took today during our walk. There are signs of life, signs of hope and signs of a different perspective.  I hope you enjoy this post.

Assorted August

Lately the smoke in our neck of the woods is a bit too much for me to golf.  For the last two days I have opted to just stay home and catch up on things.  I started with watering the front yard plants (I had to wear my mask).  Then I went to my neighbor to water their plants, pick some tomatoes, basil and a few hydrangeas.  Now I am tired.  This is a good time to do my blog while resting.  Actually if this gets posted today I am actually a couple of days early.  So exactly what does assorted means.  It will be a mixed up of photos from the past month.  There's be flowers, foods, scenery and maybe even some surprises.  I hope you are still enjoying reading my blog and now you only have to check it once a month.  Thank you for stopping by. 

I just love the way the flowers bloomed in a perfect row.

I just remembered we have not made this in ages.

My very first Chocolate Almond Braid (very easy dessert)

The first year these flowers bloomed since we moved in.

My very first hosta plant but the other one is dying.

Last year I only had one bloom, this year I have two.

Even with the heat, this plant never bloomed in 4 years.

Another very easy cake to make and very pretty.

This is the view from our living room window almost everyday.

This was the view along the highway from Vernon to YLW (July 6).