…how could I not post my decorated Christmas tree
Sunday Tree – December 26, 2021
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Category Archives: About Me
Fun Christmas Trios
….I needed some cheer after the week we’ve had
These trios certainly brought a smile to my face.
Hope everyone had a very merry Christmas.
I Got My Booster Shot on a Bus
….no kidding, it was a pop up clinic in the middle of a parking lot
Last Thursday I decided to go to one of the many pop-up clinics that are showing up in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario and try to get my booster shot a little earlier. I had managed to get an appointment for January 6th but with the kids coming over at Christmas I thought I’d try to get an earlier appointment.
When I got to the outdoor plaza at Dixie and Dundas, I wasn’t sure I was in the right place but I eventually saw the GO bus where the clinic was being held. After I parked the car I walked over to the line where people were masked and socially distanced. It was hard to tell how many people were ahead of me because the line snaked around rows of parked cars. Luckily it was a mild and sunny day.
Soon after I arrived someone came around handing out tickets to make sure they had enough doses and they announced that they had run out of the free testing kits. Half the line behind me left when they heard that. I quickly got to know the lady behind me and saved her place in line so that she could find a washroom. Most of the people in line were in their 60s and knowing where the closest washroom was was essential. We quickly got to know the couple in front of us and for the next five hours (I kid you not) we chatted up a storm. Not sure I would have stayed in line if I had known that the wait would be that long. When we got there they told us three hours, which was bad enough.
Did I mention that the sun was out and it was 15 degrees celsius when we got there? It was but it changed over the next five hours and it became cloudy and very windy. We prayed that the rain wouldn’t start because there was no shelter in the line. At about the 4 hour mark our legs were becoming quite numb and we started jumping up and down to keep the circulation going and warm up our feet. After five hours I finally I got my booster shot that took all of five minutes. I said good bye to my new found friends, Suzanne, Jackie and Warren and we all went our separate ways.
Am I glad that I got my booster shot? Maybe glad is the wrong word but I am relieved. It is one less thing to worry about for me and my family.
RIP Frances
…I’ve been MIA for the last two days dealing with a very sick Frances
Frances was our beloved dog for over 14 years. It was just a few days ago that I announced that she turned 15 and little did I know that 5 days later she would be gone. It is never easy to have to make the decision to put down an animal. We both knew that the time would come when we would probably have to make that decision. Apparently very few dogs die naturally.
My husband always said that Frances was his dog but we had a special bond of our own. When I came home from work she would always greet me at the door and even in retirement she would come to me for walks. She loved going to the cottage with me, when Kevin couldn’t and she quickly learned that I had a soft touch when it came to doling out treats. Kevin always gave her liver treats before he retired for the evening but as soon as he went upstairs she would start on me. She knew she could break me down if she was persistent enough and she was persistent.
A couple of weeks ago I ran into a neighbour who was out walking her second dog. Her first dog had passed away a couple of years ago. Frances and Pichou were puppy friends. She was amazed that Frances was still with us and she declared that Frances was the last of the six or seven puppies that hung around together in the summer of 2007.
Every time we have a dog, my husband firmly announces that there will be no more dogs when the present one goes but this time he started thinking about the next dog he wants to own. This time I’m the one that says no more dogs (for now anyway). I was hoping that travel would be in the cards for us and having a dog just complicates that. It will seem odd though not having a dog in the house. We’ve had dogs for the last 38 years. Who do you think will win this argument?
Textures on Trees
…for Tuesday Textures I’m focusing on the wonderful textures found on exotic trees
My trip last week to the Centennial Park Greenhouse was very fruitful. Not only did I see some great plants but I also got some wonderful shots and close-ups of some very exotic foliage. I’ve always love photographing bark and last week’s trip did not disappoint.
Macro Shots Around the House
….for Macro Monday
Sunday Tree – December 5, 2021
…a mighty evergreen
Sculpture Saturday – December 4, 2021
On our recent trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake we stopped in at 13th Street Winery to sample some wine and enjoy the art gallery there. Even though the temperatures were chilly, there were fires pits going and people were sitting around them in comfy chairs to sample the wares of this winery. There’s a bakery attached that has the region’s best butter tarts. We wimped out and sampled our wine indoors.
After purchasing wine for Christmas and putting together a gift box of wine and goodies for a very special couple we headed over to the art gallery. On our way we passed several beautiful and interesting sculptures.
New Flower (November 25, 2021) – The Last of the Little White Blooms
….took this photo at dusk….not as clear as I would like but when I went to retake the photo today there was nothing left of this plant
Thursday Trios – Gifts from the Mall
….November 25, 2021
We rarely go to the mall. Even here in Canada there are Black Friday Sales and we will probably avoid going to any malls and big box stores on Friday. When I have gone to the mall in the last two weeks it has been relatively quiet so I wasn’t uncomfortable going there to window shop. I have to admit that a lot of my shopping is still done on-line. Yesterday my husband had to step into the mall because his eye doctor has her office there. After his appointment he couldn’t wait to leave and he was out of there like his hair was on fire.
I, on the other hand, like to window shop and take in the Christmas decorations. Here are a few lovely trios of gifts some of which I could never afford to buy.
Mama Cormier 