Moon Through the Clouds ~ Skywatch Friday

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

I hope you had a great week. Mine has been busy so I haven't had a chance to do a lot of sky gazing. But I did capture this moon shot through the clouds on my way back from a bit of gardening.

 

Take care and thank. you for stopping by my Skywatch Friday post. Have a wonderful weekend.

Your Jobs ~ Tuesday 4

Hello!  It's time again for Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

This week's idea for questions came from Pamela Steiner and it's all about your occupation and work.

I think that's a great idea, so here are questions prepared for us.

1.What did/do you do for work and how long did you work in that position? 

I'm retired.  In my last job I worked for the federal (national government) as a policy advisor. I was in the department that among other things had different teams negotiating agreements with the First Nations of British Columbia over land (excluding private property), resources (fish, forests, etc.) and government powers (a broad range of powers) to enable the First Nations of British Columbia to enact laws and manage the lands and resources once negotiated agreements were ratified and passed into law.  Parties to negotiations were many First Nations, but not all,  the Government of British Columbia and the Government of Canada. There were also many interest groups who were party to different aspects of the negotiations but who were not actual signatories to any final agreements. I worked at the job for approximately 10 years and hoped I would have continued working in the job if life didn't intervene and send me into an early retirement.

2. Of the jobs you've had throughout life, which was your favorite? If no favorite, which was the worst? Tell us why you loved/hated your job.

My last job was my favourite because it was mentally challenging, varied in duties and there was a lot of room for showcasing one's ingenuity or problem solving abilities. There were of course things I didn't like about the job.  In talking to many people over the years, and through my own, varied work experiences, I concluded that no job is perfect and though you may really enjoy yours, there is probably something or several somethings, which you would rather do without.  After many different work experiences where things were not always rosy, I finally learned to implement the teaching of the Apostle Paul in the Book of Philippians 4:11-13.  It's best to try to find contentment in whatever circumstance you find yourself in, or be prepared to find a new circumstance.  Even if you look for a new circumstance it won't end up being perfect. 

3. What did your job entail?  Did it require a special education?  

It was multi-faceted. It included analyzing, developing positions, knowing the laws of the land at the federal and provincial level, liaising with legal advisors and other policy advisors in multiple departments and ministries both at the federal and provincial levels. A big part of the daily work involved discussing government positions on subjects and issues with the negotiating teams and advising negotiating team members on the parameters and language for the agreements. Another aspect was developing policy positions with my counterparts in Ottawa. There were many more aspects to the job but this summary captures the essence of it.

The job required previous policy experience and a legal degree and experience. I did however have a colleague who joined the team before I retired. She didn't have a law degree or legal experience but had a lot of other useful experience in the department. However, I'd have to say that I don't think her level of ability to advise or develop policy was anywhere near the level of the other members of the team. She obviously had other skills which stood her in good stead when she decided she wanted a change of pace at work.

4. List all the jobs/occupations you have had.

I've had a diverse work background including jobs as a student like babysitting, waiting tables and washing dishes, research & working in the university library, & summer jobs in one of the legal departments of the Government of Canada.  After graduation from university, I had a number of policy and research related jobs mostly dealing with issues of self-governance, land claims and legal rights of the Indigenous peoples of Canada (not just First Nations).  I primarily worked for the Government of Canada & for non-governmental organizations in Canada both in Ottawa, Ontario and in Vancouver, BC. 

As a young girl I was taught the value of hard work for an honest wage and to take pride in my work.  I carried this teaching with me no matter what work I was doing whether paid or voluntary.  Later I learned that the value of hard work is also a biblical concept.  In case anyone is curious, I found it was easier to implement the hard work ethic than it was to learn how to be content in all things. Thankfully I eventually succeeded in the latter and found it really added a lot of peace and satisfaction to my life overall.

Well that concludes my post for today. I hope you found it interesting and that you'll visit again soon. Take care and have a wonderful week.

Tuesday 4 - Lights

Welcome to another Tuesday 4 by Toni Taddeo. 

Let's talk about light, okay? You light up my life. shine a light in the darkness, Miller Light. All kinds of light but how about at home?

1. Are you afraid of the dark? Is night or day your favorite time? 

I'm not afraid of the dark.  However when I'm walking outside I prefer that there are a lot of lights to light the way at night.

I love both early mornings and early evenings. I guess when the sun is rising and setting. These are such beautiful times of the day. I also like late at night when when all is hush and quiet. I'm a night owl but sometimes I wish I was an early bird.

2. Do you have night lights in your home?

I don't have night lights at home. From time to time I've tried to keep a night light in the bathroom but that doesn't usually last for long.  A light shining at night tends to keep me awake and my husband as well. He's probably more sensitive to the light than I am.

3. How low do you set your air conditioning?  Do you adjust it through the day?

I don't have air conditioning.  I have several fans for those very hot days and they are adjusted throughout the day or night as needed.  We don't run the fans all day and night so that they don't get overly heated.

4. Do you keep any outdoor or indoor lights on all night?

No I do not.  If my entry door was located outside I would want a motion detector light. At least I think I would though it might become a nuisance if it was overly sensitive to motion. I do have solar lights in my garden. I like to see them from inside when I'm looking out my window. We also have a lot of mini flashlights which we keep in case the power goes out. But also my husband doesn't like to turn on lights at night and uses the mini-flashlights so as not to wake me. He's a sweetheart and a thoughtful person. 💗

Moments of Joy - Skywatch Friday

Hello friends and fellow bloggers, 

Happy new weekend to you all.

After a few days of rain, we had a beautiful day of sunshine though the temperatures are several degrees colder than the norm.

I'm still waiting for the sun to shine just a wee bit brighter to warm my bones.  In the meantime I'm grabbing moments of joy where I can by enjoying all the variety of wonderful tree blossoms in the neighbourhood.

Enjoy your weekend.  Thank you for visiting my Skywatch Friday post.

An April Sky ~ Skywatch Friday

Spring has finally sprung in this part of the world and we've had a beautiful week of warm temperatures and glorious sunshine. Now we're in for a mixed bag of rain and sunshine for a few days but it has definitely warmed up.  

Soon the cherry blossoms will already be gone. They are so beautiful, yet so fleeting.

I hope you are enjoying the weather and the skies wherever you are.

Thank you for stopping by my Skywatch Friday post today. Have a wonderful weekend.

April Showers Bring May Flowers ~ Skywatch Friday

Hi friends and fellow bloggers,

These are a just a few photos taken earlier in the week on a cloudy but bright day. By the time this post is published we'll be back to rain.

Do you remember the childhood verse that went "April showers bring May flowers". I had to look it up to remind myself of the verses.

April Showers Bring May Flowers song lyrics for kids : Pitter-patter raindrops Falling from the sky. Here is my umbrella, To keep me dry. April showers Bring May flowers April showers Bring May flowers When the rain is over and The sun begins to glow, Little flowers start to bloom And grow and grow and grow. April showers Bring May flowers April showers Bring May flowers

~~~~~

When I reviewed the lyrics I realized that I never actually sang this song but used to hear the line 'April showers bring May flowers" a lot. It was just something people always said to remind themselves as to why there was a lot of rain in the spring.

Where I live now we don't just get showers in April. The rain starts in October and follows us into April. Yet every year we seem to also have water restrictions which come earlier and earlier in the summer. I think it's because these days there tends to be a lot less snow on the mountains. We rely on the snow for replenishing the water supply. Let's hope this summer won't be so dry.

Take care everyone and have a wonderful weekend and a blessed Easter.

Thanks for stopping by my Skywatch Friday post.

What Will We Find ~ Tuesday 4

Hello! Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4. 

1. What will we find on top of your refrigerator?

You'll find extra large boxes of dry cereal, mostly Honey Nut Cheerios and Weetabix, sometimes Bran Flakes.  I also keep a ready supply of paper towels and cleaning rags in a plastic cleaning caddy. These rags are more for shining the kitchen appliances, windows and mirrors.  The heavy duty cleaning rags are kept somewhere else.

2. What will we find on your nightstand?

I don't have a nightstand. Neither does my husband. He uses a wicker basket with a flat top cover. He doesn't keep anything there except a small flashlight in case he needs to use the washroom during the night. I use a corner of my dresser.  I keep distilled water for the CPAP machine, water for drinking, the CPAP machine & a remote control for the bed.  If I'm having difficulty sleeping I might raise the head of the bed during the night. I try not to do that because it wakes my husband.

3. What is in your purse or handbag?

In the inner pocket of my cross body bag, I have hand wipes, a wallet & change purse, small spray hand sanitizers, a notebook, pen and my passport.  In the small front pocket, I have numerous lip glosses and sometimes a small room spray. I do try to keep the latter on hand because sometimes public washrooms aren't that fresh.

4. What will we find on your coffee table or side tables? How about your kitchen or dining table?

I don't have a coffee table because we have an ottoman for resting our feet. I do keep a large tray in the centre of the sofa and keep a variety of items in it:   kleenix, clean dishtowels/paper towels, hair clips, a small flashlight, scissors and the remote control. On the side table I keep the landline telephone, a variety of stationery items, odds and ends & my daily bread (bible scripture cards).

Try as I might,  my dining table is not used much for dining these days. It holds various stages of 'in progress' items like paperwork, household tasks or creative projects or sometimes all three! Once I complete the seemingly never ending decluttering project, the dining table will be used more regularly for sit down meals. Of course when I'm expecting company, I clear everything away and the table is set.  But for now it's the largest flat surface I have for dealing with projects.

Thanks for stopping by my Tuesday 4 post!

The End Has Arrived - Skywatch Friday, March 27, 2026

Hello friends & fellow bloggers,

I hope you are well this Friday and that you have little glimmers of joy to keep you going through these turbulent times.

I'm late with posting today.  I wasn't sure I'd even get to post because I've been ill for awhile. But I'm slowly recovering and the weather is slowly improving in these parts now that the spring season is here. 

I haven't done much this week due to illness but I did get out one day to capture a few photos.

We've come to the end of the month and I'm glad that a new month is around the corner.

Thank you for stopping by my Skywatch Friday post today.

In Like a Lion - Out Like a Lamb- Tuesday 4

Welcome back to another Tuesday 4 in honor of Toni Taddeo it's founder. They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.  

March 29-31 are the "borrowing days" when weather is traditionally rough or stormy and the month was named for Mars the god of war because March was the time for the start of wars.

1.  What brings out the lion in you? What brings out the lamb? 

When I see someone being ill treated it brings out my inner lion. When I come across someone in need or distress it brings out the lamb in me. Also when I see love or kindness in action, it brings out the lamb in me.

2. What are you enjoying in terms of TV, movies or books right now?

Right now I'm enjoying books. I have a more than a few on loan and I'm a bit behind on my reading. I'm actually ahead in my reading goals for the year but I'm behind in terms of completing all the books I've borrowed before they become due.  I just completed an excellent book called The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. 

I've been trying to find something 'good' to watch on television and YT but haven't been much interested in the usual things. I did catch the 3rd season of "Night Agent" on Netflix which I enjoyed. I also finished watching the Netflix series, "Tehran". I always enjoy spy movies and sometimes a spy series and I started watching this one before the current war with Iran. I'm waiting for the newest season of "Slow Horses" on Netflix but that won't be released until the Fall.

March 20/26

3. It's Spring now... are you happy to see it come?  Will you be going out more?

It's officially spring and the weather is finally going to be sunny for a few days. This is what I've been waiting for and 'yes' I hope to get out more.  I like going for strolls when the sun comes out but first I have to get over a bout of sickness.

4.  Create an ideal weather scenario for each season.. the perfect  weather for summer, spring, autumn and winter.

August 2025

A perfect summer is sunny but not too hot and an occasional day of rain to keep everything nice, green and refreshed. This type of weather allows a person to enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities. Too much heat is not comfortable and can result in wildflowers.

A perfect spring starts the season with more rain and tapers off as the season progresses with more sunny days. It also features blossoming trees and early flowers like daffodils.  Too much rain ruins the cherry blossoms.

October 2025

A perfect autumn is warm with a small chill in the air as the season progresses. It also features many beautifully coloured leaves on the trees. If we're fortunate there won't be a lot of rain because rain causes too many leaves to fall too early.

A perfect winter where I live is no snow in the city but lots on the mountains.  Hopefully there are not so many days of torrential rain or temperatures that dip too low.

January 2026

As you can see, it rains a lot here. I really don't mind rain at all. I just mind it when it is very heavy and sometimes when it rains for 2 weeks without sun.  Growing older has made me less tolerant of our weather because I also get cold easier these days. Our weather is milder in winter months than it is in much of North America so I don't complain too loudly.

March Skies - Skywatch Friday

March continues to live up to it's reputation of being very unsettled concerning the weather. It's been raining a lot. I've also found it quite cold though the sun has also come out here and there and given us a few glorious days.

What I read on line today tells a different story.  Supposedly it's been almost 2 degrees warmer from December to February than it usually is, we are poised to close our first winter in 43 years without snow and we have had 50 millilitres less rainfall than normal.  Apparently snow has to accumulate at least 1 centimetre at the airport to be recorded as an official snowfall and though it has snowed a bit in different parts of the city it has only been trace amounts. It's hard to believe that we've had less rainfall or that it's been warmer.  Since October we've had so many instances of what they call an 'atmospheric river' that I've lost count.  An atmospheric river is a newer term to me and it's like a river of water in the sky that drops bucket loads of rain, sometimes snow on earth.  As for the warmer weather, I think I've used my thermostat to turn on the heat far more often that I ever have and my electricity bill is the evidence.  It may just be a symptom of aging and not being able to tolerate the cold any more. I now have a better understanding of why people leave in the winter months to go to hotter climates though I'm not likely to do that anytime soon.

So my pining for days of old when I thought it was actually warmer than it is now is because I always think back to my early years in Vancouver when I was a young university student.  March was always a month when my nose would be buried in the books more than usual because it was the month of final papers being due and studying for final examinations.  It also happened to be one of the most beautiful months of the school term.  It was almost always sunny & warm and the cherry and apples tree were in bloom. I yearned to be free to enjoy them but had to keep my nose in the books. To this day, March is the month I most look forward to due to the beautiful memories of spring after long, dark and wet winters.

Well, the weather may finally be turning a bit and not too soon because the spring equinox falls on Friday, March 20th just before 8 in the morning.  Though it's still raining heavily today and probably tomorrow, Saturday is supposed to be a sunny day. I think after that the temperatures should warm up.  On my walk the other day I noticed that it was definitely warmer than it has been for some time and I'm hoping the warming trend continues.  

There was enough of a break in the heavy rain to enable my dear husband to add compost to our small community garden plot.  I'm trying to get him to look after the plot himself this year and gave him carte blanche to do what he'd like.  He loves vegetable gardening but he didn't jump at my proposition.  He thinks I need an excuse to get out and exercise and so I should do the gardening.  He'll also be very busy through the coming months during garden season.  I told him I get enough exercise doing other things throughout the week so we'll see what happens. It's true that he won't have much time for gardening but maybe I can get him to at least plant the garden if I take care of the rest. 

Daffodils in the neighbourhood

It snowed on the mountain tops a few days ago but not down below where I live. I saw these beautiful daffodils on one of my walks. They are such a pretty, happy flower bringing colour to a dull day. and reminding me of more beauty yet to unfold in the months ahead with the coming warmer weather.

After all I also have the flower garden at my home to plant and look after. I'm hopeful that I can sit outside and enjoy the patio more this year. I'm not sure how that will work out because workers will be here over the drier, warmer months to do rebuild the rest of the patios in the building. They completed the patios on my level in early summer last year so my garden was just seeds thrown in and hoping they'd take root (photos below show some of the flowers in the patio garden).

I hope all is well in your world.

Thank you for joining in my Skywatch Friday post.