This Week on Tuesday 4

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4, a meme hosted by Annie of Cottage by the Sea, in memory of her good friend, Toni Taddeo. This meme is for Tuesdays though I usually post a day or two ahead of time.

Let's talk about your week okay?

1. Is anything interesting on TV this week?  What will you be watching?

I haven't heard of anything interesting on television. I don't really watch regular programming other than the occasional newscast, newsmagazine and Y & R, the long-running soap I've been watching since I was a teenager.

2. Any books on your horizon right now? What will you be reading?

Yes, I have several books 'on the go' right now. I've started back to reading after 2 months of hardly turning a page whilst recovering from a bout of shingles. If any of you have had shingles you know it is exhausting and also painful. It's a pity I had to deal with this because I had it on my 'to do' list to get a vaccine.  However I've read that a vaccine doesn't guarantee you won't get it and some people seem to get it several times. No one in my family has ever had it so I'm not sure why I did.

Currently reading

Currently in my reading pile

Salad with canned salmon and eggs

3. What's been on the menu lately?  

Any new recipes caught your eye?

I have no plans for new recipes this week.  I made an Asian inspired Udon noodle soup dish last night.  Unfortunately it wasn't as good as usual because I was also busy with an in home appointment and not paying quite enough attention to the soup.

Usually I don't spend that much time in the kitchen when the weather gets warmer because it's simply too hot. It's the season for more salads and fresh fruits, etc. Tonight however I plan to make rice pilaf, baked chicken breasts and a side dish of vegetables or salad. 

4. Who will you spend time with this week?

Big haul to the thrift store. More to come.

I have no plans with friends this week or next and DH is very busy for the foreseeable future.  I'm still busy trying to catch up to things left undone over the past few months. whilst I've been convalescing. I'm also in the thick of decluttering and making small upgrades. This week and next week there's lot of shopping for bathroom light fixtures, fireplace mantle, removal of materials & installations required. There are also small repairs to be done in the master bathroom. My brother is my handyman so I'll be spending a lot of time with him. I also have an appointment with my dental hygienist who is always fun to talk to since he loves gardening, photography and travel. 

Thank you for stopping by. I'd love to hear your plans for the week!

One Beautiful Day in May ~ Skywatch Friday, May 28, 2026

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

I hope you've had a good week so far. Mine has been so very busy. A lot of personal business matters I've been tending to for myself and other members of my family have been in the works for awhile and are finally coming to a nice conclusion. It sure has taken time but each step has shown progress so that's the best one can hope for.

Today I was busy in meetings all morning and in phone meetings. I ended the day by getting my ears pierced. This was necessitated by one of my ear lobes having been ripped. I didn't even notice for days afterward.  I've been wanting to get the ear piercing re-done for quite some time but it seems that other things always cropped up and took priority. It's a seemingly small thing but I'm very happy now that it's done.  It should heal up in about 2 months or so.

The weather today was spectacular, bordering on a little hot but I was quite comfortable.  Earlier in the week it rained a bit and was overcast. On Tuesday night I actually found it quite cold in the evening.  My DH and I were sniffling the next day but I think we are over it as it warmed up considerably.

Rather than go on in detail about what has been keeping me busy I'll close with some books I'm reading right now. I didn't read much from late April until near the end of May but I'm back at it now.

I'm currently reading The Hotel Nantucket and enjoying it.

A coming of age story set in Sweden

A well written memoir about the actor's sad upbringing and current health challenges

Thank you stopping by my Skywatch Friday post. 

Four Seasons - Four Questions ~ Tuesday 4

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

1. Do you have a favorite day of the week and how about  a favorite month of the year? Why?

I don't really have a favourite day of the week though if I have to choose it's probably Friday. It's a hold over from my working years when Friday always meant a brief respite from the pressures of work and a signal to enjoy life a bit. However weekends were always too short and too busy trying to get all the shopping, errands and cleaning done. If you're a working woman there isn't much time for relaxing on weekends. I'm sure most of you women will agree though I know some women have so much energy and yet also manage to relax and do fun things all year long.

My favourite month changes depending on when you ask me, lol.  Today I'll say April because the weather improves, rains aren't as heavy and most importantly new buds and blossoms come out. I especially love the cherry blossoms making April the favourite month though May is a close 2nd because it's my birth month and the greenery is in full force. 

2. What’s the most beautiful or magical thing about each of the four seasons?

Winter - Snow can be magical, especially a gently falling snow that is backlit by pretty outdoor lights. We don't have too many days like that in winter where I live. We get more rain and the rain helps keep out grass green all year and grows our beautiful old trees. So that is lovely too.

December

Spring - The best thing about spring is seeing the new growth poke up out of the ground each year and the anticipation of warmer temperatures and beautiful flowers and gardens ahead. I also absolutely love spring because it's the time of year we also get the most beautiful and amazing cherry blossoms.

April 2026

April 2023

Summer - The light and the relaxing vibes I feel from everyone no matter where I go. I enjoy seeing other people enjoy themselves.

June 2017

June 2017

June 2017

Fall - I love the month of September because the weather is much cooler than July and August. I also absolutely love the magnificent Fall colours when the trees are turning shades of golden yellow, orange and red. 

September 2025

September 2025

September 2025

3. Summer is coming... what does this mean in your life? How will things change, stay the same, etc?

It usually means a road trip, sometimes 2 or 3 to visit family or to explore local environs. To have a change of scenery because we've not gone anywhere all winter and we are kept busy in the spring with all the outdoor cleaning and gardening work.  I love road trips in Canada. Our country is so vast and beautiful. Once you get out in nature you find a peaceful and calm sense of things.  I think most people probably feel that way whether they live in Canada or not because there are beautiful places in nature all around the world.

Other than that, I keep busy doing lots of spring cleaning while the light is better and before the heat of summer arrives. I also try to get out in nature more to enjoy what is around me locally.

4. What do you look forward to in each season?

Winter - Slowing down and wearing pullovers/sweaters, lol.

Spring -  Lots of greenery and flowers.

Summer - Visiting with loved ones from afar and a slower, relaxing pace.

Fall - A briskness in the air which I find invigorating and an anticipation in the air that new things are happening.

A Beautiful Sky ~ Skywatch Friday

Hi friends and fellow bloggers,

Another week has flown by. I hope it was a good one for you. Here is my post for Skywatch Friday this week.

My post today includes photos taken at the Granville Island Public Market located under the Granville Street Bridge.  This is a very popular spot with tourists and locals alike. 

You can see the sky was clear blue and the weather was very pleasant. I was surprised because overnight there was a huge rainstorm. I was meeting several family members for a lunch at the Tap & Barrel. It's been a long time since I was there last. My food was actually too salty but I still enjoyed the time with family members I don't get to see that often.
 

There are two stores in the Net Loft building (above) that we had to stop at.  One was the Beadworks and the other was the Wickaninnish Gallery.  They were both full of customers but we were able to quickly get assistance and not take too much time to do our business before heading to dinner.

May Skies - Skywatch Friday

Hello friends and fellow bloggers, 

Today I'm sharing a collage of skies overhead on Wednesday and Thursday. We've had a bit of rain as well but hopefully the sun returns soon.

Thank you for your visit. Enjoy your weekend.

Posted to Skywatch Friday.

A Peaceful Night Sky ~ Skywatch Friday

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

How are you all doing this week?

I've been okay though still not quite recovered from a recent bout of illness. I'm just glad to be feeling well enough to start doing the usual household tasks and gardening at the community plot.  It has been absolutely beautiful weather although it turned a bit cloudy on Wednesday and part of Thursday. 

I captured this peaceful night sky last Monday. I meant to photograph the pastel sky at sunset but wasn't quite quick enough to do it.

It won't be long now before summer is upon us.  If all goes well, I'm hoping to travel a bit over the summer, at least before the end of September but don't expect to travel farther than the province next door.  My hubby just returned from a long flight after weeks away in Kenya. I was worried he might get caught up in the fuel shortage issue but thankfully that didn't happen. 

What about your dear reader?  I'd love to know if you have any plans for summer travels.

Please note: Every week I have difficulties uploading photos to the Skywatch website using the linky information. I sometimes have success depending on the browser but sometimes none of the browsers work (yes I have looked into cookie issues and so on) and I have to upload a photo. The photos always look right side up when being uploaded but once uploading is complete they are sideways.  I apologize if this is as annoying to you as it is to me.

Thank you for visiting my Skywatch Friday post this week. 

Hello May - Tuesday 4

Welcome friends!

This week's Tuesday 4 in memory of our friend Toni Taddeo is from Mary who blogs at Visits With Mary and it's all about the month of May. Thanks Mary!

 Hello May

1. May’s First Glimpse — What is the very first thing you notice or feel when May arrives each year?

The first thing I notice is more sunshine and more light. I also seem to have more energy to tackle larger tasks around the house.

2. Simple May Joys — What small pleasures do you look forward to in May — flowers, breezes, routines, or traditions?

I look forward to it all, more greenery, leaves on deciduous trees, flowers, anything that grows outside. I look forward to fresh air by opening windows and more walks in the sunshine before the days get too hot.

Home garden patio in sunshine (2025)


3. May Memories — Do you have a favorite May memory from childhood, family life, or recent years?

When I was a child May was still a cold month, school was still in session and we could even have freak snowstorms in June though it was rare. All this to say I don't have any favourite memories from the month of May.  However, May is my birth month and every month thereafter we have a family birthday to celebrate until October. After that I look forward to Thanksgiving & Christmas.  In May of each year, I mainly look forward to these events involving loved ones.  If we are together we have family dinners to celebrate with cake and take away meal.  If we are not together, I always try to remember their birthday with cards, phone calls and sometimes gifts.  It also seems that many of my close friends celebrate birthdays in May.  This keeps me busy remembering them with gifts, cards & lunches where possible. In fact, right now I'm behind schedule in remembering the birthdays of 2 out of town friends who celebrate their birthdays in a few days. So you know what I'll be doing tomorrow!

4. May Intentions — What gentle goals or hopes do you carry into this new month?

To get the community garden consistently watered and the patio garden planted and tended.

A recent evening at the community plot (2026)

I like the idea of sitting outside more often this year and hope to do so on the patio.  To create time for this relaxation, a lot of work is going on inside and outside to deep clean, & get large tasks out of the way.  The balcony pavers, railings and furniture have all been deep cleaned, windows are being cleaned inside and outside, the carpeting indoors is being given a thorough cleaning and various other seasonal tasks are being done.

April and May are always busy months with the gardens that need planting. It's also the time when so many other things gear up and/or need doing before I can relax and enjoy the summer.

Home garden patio at sunset (2025)

If you've read this far, thank you.  I appreciate it.  Have a wonderful week.

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. 💗