Gardening

A few years ago a good friend of mine invited me to one of her garden club meetings, and at the time I thought, 'I'm not really a gardener" but I accepted and was very pleasantly surprised and glad that I did. I had the opportunity to not only meet those wonderful (and wise) gardeners, but to invite them to our home and return their generous hospitality. The club meets weekly during the summer months and I hope to able to attend this season. Yes, they did welcome me into their *circle*.

As far as gardening experience goes, I did work in our family vegetable garden during the summer months, weeding, weeding and picking the fruits of our labours. Dad tended to extend the garden boundaries each year, resulting in more weeds and even more fruit, but that's okay. We enjoyed our own veggies at the supper table all winter, and "thanks Dad and Mom for teaching us the importance of "home-grown". There's nothing like a fresh plate of new green beans and potatoes, baby carrots with your own herbs for seasoning and a side of cucumbers and tomatoes to satisfy that *outdoors* appetite. Ummm-m-m, I can taste it now.

Having said that, I have to tell you that I don't grow but only a few veggies today. It's the flowers that I love. Okay Dad, I know I can't eat the flowers, but I do so enjoy watching them peak throguh the soil, spreading their wings skyward and rewarding our senses with heavenly sights and smells. In fact, Arend is out there right now planting annuals in containers, to be proudly displayed around our front patio area, as well as down our (long) driveway.

I do help, but he does the bulk of the planting and preparing. So why am I in a garden club you ask? Good question. I did admit to the "Late Bloomers" that I'm not the true gardener in the family but that didn't deter them. It's fun to meet at one another's homes and tour the variety of gardens that each one has cultivated on their property. We all share our garden *stories* and sometimes horrors, before we sit down to a delicious lunch prepared by the hostess of the week. I love that part, being a bit of an entertainer, and so does Arend. The arrangement works well for both of us I'm happy to say. And the garden ladies always walk away with smiles on their faces, so how can you hate it??

Before I close today, I did want to mention the new author's series that I've been reading and you'll see why I've included this. The author's name is Patti Hill and her 3-book series is about a garden-designer who is looking (not really, but her friends try to help her along--grin) for love, in all the wrong places it seems. The characters lured me into the plot immediately, and the laughter and tears lasted throughout the delightful story that ensued. You might want to check out her web site: pattihillauthor.com If you love gardening ( and even if you don't) you will aappreciate this author's style and sense of humour.

I have more on gardening for you in the next post so stay tuned, Barb

Reality: "A Good Thing"

Since returning to our "zone" (AKA *home*) little bits of absolute truth have been striking me at every turn.
#1. My cat did miss me; she's hardly left my side--she's watching me type as we speak.
#2. Reconnecting with family and friends means that plans are in the works for upcoming visits and over-nighters here at our "inn".
#3. The apple blossoms (note the pics, esp. the one with the dewdrops) are even sweeter on our front lawn than they've ever been!
#4. Seeing the *view* from our bedroom (pic with gorgeous sky and blossoms) is an absolute gift from God, and having coffee on the deck outside the garden door is another bonus that I will not ever take for granted again!
#5. Breakfast at our table, surrounded by windows that allow us to observe all living things, in techni-colour, is the best way to start any day.
#6. The space we have here, inside and out, is another gift from God, and oh how I appreciate being able to spend time in many corners, instead of just the passenger seat in the car (Grin).

If you've been away from your home for any length of time, I'm positive you know exactly what I'm talking about. The task of weeding (which I generally detest--okay, I realize the *wonder of it may wear off soon--grin) has even been enjoyable today, in the light rain that's been falling.

I'm looking forward to (hopefully) spending time with my son and his family this weekend. I will have new memories for my treasure chest, and pictures of my grandson in our home for the first time. Nothing could be sweeter than that!

God is so good! May he bless you and "yours" today. Till the next time on "Bits & Pieces", Barb

Back Home--YES!!

Now that I've finished the draft post that sat in limbo for 5 days, I'll try to bring everyone up to date on what's happening in our little corner of this big, wide, wonderful world. Even though I knew the *green* would be out in full force and my tulips were almost to their *blooming* end, I still gasped at the beauty that awaited us as Heather drove us up our driveway. The apple trees on the front lawn promised a bumper crop of blossoms, my lillies had grown at least a foot tall and the grass was ready for its first mowing. The house looked so welcoming, and our little grand-daughter was saying, "Home Nanny". All was good!

That was last Friday afternoon (30 plus degree temps hit as we stepped off the plane) and since we've settled back into reality, I've come to a keener appreciation of what home is all about. Hearing our little grand-daughter saying, "Nanny, Nanny" as she met us with open arms and lots of hugs, talking to my sons and catching up on their news (my new grandson is now 6 weeks old) and just sitting in my favourite chair with a good book and a glass of ice tea--well, it really doesn't get any better does it?? Experiencing the western coast, the mountains, the desert, big city hustle and bustle--that's what vacations are made of and I feel so blessed to be able to say that, "I've been there and done that".

But we all know there is just no place like your own, no matter where you live. And my cat surely agrees with me as she rests on the piano keyboard behind me while I type. She's barely left my side since we opened the front door--you might say she missed us but there's really no telling with a feline. I do know that she was lonesome and that she slept on my pillow for most of the time we were gone. As for how much she missed us--only she knows for sure.

Because the end of May is fast approaching, we made our rounds at the garden centers today (a yearly ritual for us), checking out the various bedding plants and shrubs that we want to plant this season. Between you and me, I would love to plant several more lillies, but we'll have to wait and see how that works out. I don't believe one can ever have too many fragrant lily varieties but some folks don't quite agree with that theory--yet! Till the next time, Barb
I've included a few pics of the Calgary skyline and one of the snow that lay on the cars last Thursday morning.

Back home tomorrow

It's been a couple of days since I've posted but as the title says, we've been busy getting packed up to move back in to our own B&B and I can't wait to lay down this head on my own pillow!

I must tell you about yesterday's trek "back in time" as Arend and I drove up to Westlock (about 3 &1/2 hours from here) so I could revisit the town where my youngest son was born (in 1980).

The sky looked extremely menacing and before we got back to Calgary the snow had begun in earnest, but I am getting ahead of myself here (that's partly because it's been 5 days since I first began this post--I *did* want to finish it, even though we're home now).

As we got closer to Westlock, I kept looking for familiar scenes from my memory but not many seemed to appear as they once were. Progress had led to new buildings and even highways, but the feel of the western culture was the same. Ranches of varying sizes dotted the landscape, workers were busy with new crops and here and there oil derricks pumped the "bubbling crude" from beneath the rich black soil.

I wanted to stop and take pics of every sign post that indicated we were indeed in the right area (grin) and Arend obliged, so that my sons can see that I had truly been there. However, one of the things I most wanted to see was the hospital where Ryan made his debut--it's been converted to a Sobey's store. The elementary school that Derek attended is now a library (in one wing) and and adult learning center in the other end of the building. The exterior looks exactly as I remember though, and as we entered through the front doors, I could almost hear the voices of the children who had been Derek's classmates.

We found the house where we had lived as well. It looks much the same except the colour has changed from yellow to blue. And, as we talked to a few of the residents I discovered that Dr. Watt was stil alive and well, and very active in the medical community. One lady at the library told me that he had been her doctor and her opinion was the same as mine--he was a wonderful family physician and I felt privileged to call him my doctor.

On our way back from Westlock we made a brief stop at the WEM, just so I could say I've experienced that as well. By this time however, my mind was pretty much focused on getting home.

I will update our homecoming in the next post, Blessings, Barb

Back in Canada

Even if I *could* type 1000 words a minute, I would never have enough time to begin to really tell you about these past 21 days. From the time we stepped on the plane in Fredericton on May 1, until this moment, where I'm writing in a hotel in Lethbridge, Alberta, I've savoured every waking moment in this wondrous land, all the highs and lows (literaaly) of the deserts and mountains. We've criss-crossed across 9 states, bringing to a total of 25 that I've seen so far.

I've had favourite moments and some not so, but still the experience will hopefully stay with me in my heart until the very end of my days. God has been so good to us, and He's kept us safe and happy (for the most part--grin) on this amazing journey that a lot of folks dream about but never take. You've heard the saying, "Follow your dreams"--well, my dreams have exceeded even my wildest expectaions, on this trip and in my life.

As I look at the handsomeness of the day, the fluffy clouds playing around the sun, I'm reminded (again)just how small this world is, and the same time how big. When your family are far away in another province and town, the boundaries seem too, too wide. But when that day arrives and you're back on your own turf, well, I know I'm looking forward to Friday--YEAH!!

Until then, we're staying in Calgary, treking up to Westlock from there tomorrow, to check out the place where my family lived for a year, 1979-80. My youngest son was born there and I told him I wanted to take pictures of the nursery where he slept for the first time. His reaction to that was, "Mom, that was 27 years ago, the hospital may be torn down by now". No matter, I'll stand on or near the spot and remember the first time I held him in my arms. I'll wander the street where my oldest son (only 7 at that time) walked to school and brought home friends to play. I'll find the house where we lived and remember the good times there, our 2 black cats entertaining us.

Life isn't about seperation, not really. It's about reconnecting and God's plan is about that too. I'm so glad to be even a miniscule part of that plan.

And, on that note, I have to scoot now and get my bags packed--AGAIN!! Grin! We are on our way to Calgary to explore a little bit more.

Wishing you and yours a glorious day, Blessings, Barb

Monday in Montana

I feel like I'm weeks behind instead of only 2 days but that's okay--I'm a tourist and I don't have a schedule right? Okay, so I'm longing for home and can picture my tulips in bloom (Arend's brother has been updating us on the garden) and hear my cat purr in my ear and see the leaves popping out on the walnut tree right in front of our breakfast nook--awww, home (sigh).

Now back to my update(s): Saturday we arrived in West Yellowstone (the town just outside the entrance to the park) and what a quaint spot this is. We've stayed here 2 nights now so we could explore Yellowstone, and that we did yesterday, from 9-9, arriving back at the hotel tired but with exciting memories to take back home (there's that word again--grin)

The pics will tell you some of our story--I'm afraid my time is running out here--Arend is loading up the car and I'm not even dressed yet. I will do my best to actually "say" something tonight, after we're settled in to our last hotel in the US, in the state of Montana. Blessings, Barb

In for the night

We had an easy day today--only travelling about 180 miles, so my stress level is down to a 5 or so on a scale of 10. Actually, the driving was a peach today and I manned the controls through the rest of Idaho. We took a side trip along the highway leading to the entrance to Yellowstone. The signs said it was a scenic route and touted all the falls and so on.

As we got further along the roadway, we began to question whether we were even on the right road. Arend always wants me to check the map, over and over, asking, "Are you sure we took the right turn? Sound familiar?

I kept telling him we were indeed on the right trail. "Can't you tell by where the sun is?" I asked. About that time we saw the sign that said the magic words we were looking for: "Falls, 3 miles ahead". When we stopped at the first place, we were kind of (okay a lot) disappointed. The falls were quite far away and were tiny--yes, I got that look again--"Are you sure we took the right turn?"

Thankfully just another mile or so and another sign--Upper Falls. Arend pulled into the parking lot, we heading along the pathway leading to our destination, and you wouldn't believe what we saw next.

A wedding party was assembled, ready to make the way down to the water's edge (right by the 101 foot falls) for the ceremony--how romantic is that?

Arend managed to get photos of the procession (as they walked down the staircase leading to the water) and even the bride and groom kissing--too sweet wouldn't you say? Come to think of it, we stumbled upon a wedding when we were in Holland a couple of years ago--hummmm--wonder what that means??

I'm finishing this on Monday (started on Saturday--I think) and then I'll post another entry for the last 2 days. Can you tell that I'm getting closer to home and I'm not keen on writing in this Blog now??? Not really, but I will be glad to lay my head down on my own pillow,
Till the next time, take care and God bless, Barb

At the Canyon--WOW!

My first peek at the Grand Canyon stopped me in my tracks I can tell you. We drove through a huge pine forest, climbing to 8,000 feet in altitude, and we both wondered if we would ever get there. The curved roadway leading to the edge of the natural wonder seemed to take us on a wild goose chase and actually served to heighten our curiousity--God's intention I'm sure.

But I'll quit babbling now and get those photos on here. Please let me know what you think. I'm still in awe of what we saw there and always will be.
More "bits & pieces" later, Barb