On Holiday ~ Tuesday 4

 Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.

Summertime means travel time for many people.

Let's talk about travel and holidays.

1. Will you be traveling this summer at all?

I will be travelling up country to Kamloops two or possibly three times to visit my niece.  We generally don't overnight on these trips but it makes for an extremely long day there and back.  On one of those trips we hope to carry on and keep on going to Edmonton, Alberta and possibly even farther north to visit some relatives.

I've posted a few very old photos of Kamloops and a map from Kamloops to Edmonton.  Vancouver to Kamloops by car is a distance of 354 kilometres or 220 miles.  It is an additional 807 kilometres or 501 miles from Kamloops to Edmonton.  From there we would likely carry on to other northern towns and cities before returning to Vancouver.  You can get a better look at the map if you click on it to enlarge.

A view to North Kamloops and Bachelor Heights

2. Will there be day trips in store for you? visits to the beach, evenings out?

A true day trip to local area probably won't happen but there will be some visits to different venues at least once or twice with friends.  I'll likely post about it on this blog and share some photos. I always like to go to the beach as well and take some photos there though I'm not sure I'll get there until autumn this year.

I love going to the conservatory but don't get there so often. Here you can see a lot of tropical birds and inside the conservatory is very nice, warm and tropical so it mimics the natural habitat of the bird life.

Another nice location is the rooftop garden at the city's main public library branch downtown.  In the photos below the sky looks overcast. I remember the day well and it was alternately hot and cloudy/windy. I hope on my next visit there it will be a day of sunshine.

There are a great many places to visit but sometimes it's difficult to find time to be a tourist in your own city.

3. Do you eat out more in summer ...  do you go for ice cream or treats more?

I probably eat out a little more in summer though not too much more. Eating out is just too expensive but if I'm out and about and I feel too hungry then I will have a sit down meal most often rather than a snack on the go. I do like ice cream treats too, especially Banana Splits at the DQ on summer days.  But they've become very expensive so a McD's soft ice cream treat is often the alternative.

4. What is your favorite place to visit and what is the most exotic place you've been to?

My favourite place to visit is Kenya, East Africa for the scenery and the people. I also love Australia for the spectacular scenery and the informal nature of the Aussie people. 

Green Island, Australia (Great Barrier Reef)

Sydney Harbour, Australia

I've forgotten the location but it's near Nakuru, Kenya

Typical huts in the countryside & laundry hanging to dry

Wildlife freely roams the park while you dine nearby.

Fisherman on Lake Bogoria

A buck peeks out at me

Water buffalo with pink flamingos in background, Lk. Nakuru

One of many food distributions we did near Kericho, Kenya

Both of these countries are exotic with their unique flora and fauna and their people are very hospitable. I'd love to visit these two places again but more than likely will get to Kenya before I make it back to Australia. I'm hoping that I'll be able to travel to a new country on my next visit to somewhere but we'll have to see how things go.

Awesome Clouds ~ Skywatch Friday

I saw these beautiful dramatic clouds in the sky earlier this week. I thought they were rather pretty.

Then on Tuesday, I was looking up at the mountain and I saw what looked to be a big orangey - coloured 'blob' covering the ski slopes. I hadn't seen it before so I took out the binoculars. Lo and behold, it was a huge red and white Canadian flag.

On today's news the flag makers said it took 20 days of staff working overtime to print the 60 panels that make up the flag and another week to stitch it altogether.  It took another 100 people to erect and install the flag on the mountain.  It's meant to welcome people to Vancouver for the FIFA World Cup which starts in a week and to participate in the Guiness Book of World Records for the world's largest flag ever unfurled on a mountain.

I've enlarged the photo so you can get a sense of the size of the flag.

Here's a little news story about the flag if you're interested.

It's been warm and sunny bordering on hot for several days but as you can see it's clouding over now and rain is expected shortly. 

Thank you for visiting my Skywatch Friday post.

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 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 researching and shopping or possible shopping for light fixtures, fireplace mantle, microwave, more garden plants, fittings for the bathtubs, caulking materials and various tools needed for the different jobs.  My brother is my handyman so I'll be spending a lot of time with him this week and next week.  This week I also have an appointment with my dental hygienist who is always fun to talk to since he loves gardening, photography and travel. A friend I haven't seen in ages is also wanting to get together soon to celebrate my birthday which was last month. So we're both researching a few places to go and enjoy next week. It will be great to see her again.

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.