Delicate Blossoms

Despite all the rain the blossoms are coming out in full force. 

It's a bit hard to see them with all the gray in the sky.

I played with the effect (called "Rouge") here for a little variety.

These photos were taken on Thursday, March 5th, another very rainy day.

We are expecting a bit of sunshine this weekend.


Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Enjoy your weekend.

Easter Long Weekend

We had a mixed bag of weather over this long weekend and I found it still a bit chilly.

 This week we have a mixed forecast once again but more sunny days than not. 

I hope this means we are now heading into mostly sunny days.

Joining in with

Our World Tuesday

Thank you for stopping in for a visit.

Have a lovely week ahead.

A Beautiful Week

Hi friends and fellow bloggers,

It's been a fantastic week weather wise here in Vancouver.  

The photos I'm sharing today were taken with my phone camera on Wednesday April 25, 2018.

A house on my walk. I was drawn by the big cherry tree on the side of the house.

 I was surprised to see a number of gardens that were quite far along given that we haven't had a warm spring.

I didn't take many photos of gardens that day.
I normally wait for summer walks for garden photos.

Magnolia tree blossoms are almost all gone but they are so pretty.

In my last post I shared pink cherry blossoms. Today I'm sharing white ones.

These trees are very tall.

Whether the cherry blossoms are pink or red, I love them all.

Vancouver has an estimated 40,000 cherry trees and at least 54 different varieties of them planted throughout the city.
The first cherry trees were a gift from a sister city, Yokohama, Japan.

Joining in with 

Friday Foto Friends

and

Skywatch Friday.

Thank you for stopping by!

A Busy Week

Hi friends,

I hope all of you are well. I've been a little less present on the blog this week due to busyness.

Unexpectedly my washer broke down so that added to my usual workload. I cleared everything out of the laundry closet and sorted everything as well as wiped it all down.

Of course, the washer breakdown necessitating an analysis of whether repairs are worthwhile or whether a new machine is needed.  This in turn meant even  more time doing online research, telephoning washer repairmen, researching flyers for washer sales and so on.  It looks like I will have to purchase a new machine.  After talking to experts, reading reviews on line and speaking with relatives with similar washing  machines I feel rather fortunate to have had my washer working as long as it did.  Many people seem to get only 4-5 years out of a similar model while I had 10 years. Even so, it is really   shame that we live in a throw away society and that manufacturers and retailers have done so little to improve the longevity of machines.
Most of us have become aware that machinery and equipment of various kinds are no longer built to last even if they don't become obsolete due to technological advances.

While I was cleaning out the closet, I was motivated to complete a number of Spring cleaning projects.  Things get so dusty over the Winter despite regular cleaning.
It feels good to clean in nooks and crannies and get all the dust bunnies out.  

Several bags and boxes of items to give away were put together and photos taken so that various advertisements could be prepared and posted on line.  I'm always surprised at what people are interested in.  This time the large bucket of powdered laundry soap was a sought after item. And also some clothing which often seems to be the hardest for me to get rid of.

It is very time consuming to give away several different items at the same time.  It requires responding to emails and scheduling meet up times when it is convenient for both parties. Inevitably I find, that often those that are the first to request an item are the ones least likely to be reliable when it comes down to picking the item up when they say they will.  I still prefer to give things to someone who might actually use them rather than to throw things in the trash and add to the landfill.

  

  

Since Saturday the weather has been slowly improving with more sunshine and gradually warmer days.

Soon I will need to prepare the garden.
 In the meantime I've started some seeds, both flowers and vegetables. This is the first year of starting my garden mostly from seed. Usually I purchase starter plants because I'm often behind schedule.
This year due to late warming weather, I think I can garden in the old fashioned way which is how everyone did it when I was younger.

On the hobby side I've read a few more books and increased my year-to-date total to 21 books.
I've put together several completed books to gift to my hairdresser tomorrow. I usually get books on loan from the library but from time to time I purchase a novel or two from the thrift stores. I often return them to the thrift stores once I'm finished but this time I am happy to give them to someone I know enjoys reading.

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I had a huge surprise late last week when relatives arrived in town without  notice.  They were here on other business but managed to find time for a lovely dinner.  Eight of us dined, visited and laughed together at a local neighbourhood restaurant and we had a lot of fun.
  Considering they live so far away it was touching to know they made time for me.
This particular set of relatives always does.

Last, but not least it seems so many people I know have their birthdays in April and May.  This has been keeping me busy writing and sending cards and phoning far away friends.
It's always nice when someone remembers me on my birthday and I try to remember special days of friends and family members.

I'm enjoying the last days of the tree blossoms.
I missed out on a lot of them but there are still some beautiful ones around.
I hope you enjoy the few I've posted here in this space today.
I think this variety of cherry blossom is the Prunus kanzan or the Prunus serrulata.
Sadly the trees are getting rather old and I never see anyone pruning or tending to them but they are still blossoming each year and bringing a lot of joy to me and to others.

Linking with

Our World Tuesday

Thank you for visiting!

The First Signs of Spring

The cherry blossoms are just starting to come out on one tree near my place. 

No signs of blossoms are yet visible in most of the other trees around where I live but it won't be long now. 

I had to use my Android phone camera which doesn't take the best of photos.

I couldn't help myself. I had to capture these blossoms because every year I anticipate the blossoms with eagerness and joy when I finally see them.

I hope to share better photos soon.

Happy Tuesday and happy week ahead.

I'm linking up with

Our World Tuesday this week.

Thanks for stopping by!

Beautiful Blues and Blossoms

We had a wonderful break in the weather today. After two days of heavy rainfall the sun came out unexpectedly. The sky was a beautiful blue. The icing on the cake was the beautiful blossoms which I mentioned in this post as being several weeks too early. But I can certainly enjoy them now.

We are expecting more heavy rain throughout the next week. I imagine that will destroy a lot of the beautiful blossoms depicted in these photos. Hopefully there are still many trees in other parts of the city that haven't blossomed yet and I can enjoy another week.

 

 

 

{All photos taken with my Android phone camera}

 I've got a lot of catch up to do after being sidelined by a bad cold for the past two weeks. I'm not 100% over it but close enough. I'm relieved! I hope you have all a wonderful weekend full of fun things.

If you missed my post for Our World Tuesday you can catch it here.
The sky was definitely different.

I'm linking up with Skywatch Friday today.

Saturday Evening in Vancouver

The night was so pretty tonight that I just had to take a few pictures.  I soon discovered that although I had my camera, I'd forgotten to reinsert its memory card after the last time I uploaded photos to my computer.  My cell camera came to the rescue.

I  can take photos with my cell phone as long as there is still a bit of light. My camera isn't much better but the camera does seem to have clearer shots even though it is older than the cell phone.

So here are a few photos captured before the light completely faded.

I like the way the crescent moon can be seen just below the blossoming tree. There is a faint hint of pink in the sky as the sun was just setting.

In this photo the sky looks blue though I didn't touch it up. You can't see the pink blossoms very well because of the poor light.

You can see some of the trees have no blossoms at all. The tree in the photo with the church steeple is a totally different tree from all the others in my photos.  But am not sure the name of it. I just know it has different blossoms altogether.  I always like the illuminated cross on the church steeple at night, especially in winter.

In this photo you can make out the blossoms a bit better. At least you can tell they are pink. I must have snapped this photo just a few seconds or minutes before the other photos and while there was still a bit more light.

Here is a long view of the moon.

On the news I heard we are about 6 weeks ahead of schedule as far the blossoming of apple, cherry and peach trees and the arrival of Spring.  I think that puts the annual Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Festival at risk because it doesn't start until April 2, 2015.

 Last year I missed going for walks and enjoying the many cherry blossoms we have in Vancouver.  The weather was inclement and with too much rain all the blossoms fell to the ground before I could get out to enjoy them.

 Perhaps this year I can get a few photos.

But it looks like I'd better be quick since the blossoms are maturing so fast!

Added, February 24, 2015

I also managed to get this photo of a  rapidly changing main street in the city. So many businesses have come and gone.  More changes are on the way soon. I've heard from small business owners that the rents are too high but then the rents are high everywhere so what to do?

One popular and well established restauranteur said he was closing his establishment not for lack of business but for onerous taxes. This country is just getting ridiculously taxed.

View of a rapidly changing city street. Many businesses closing and new ones opening.

We don't pay as much as some of the European countries perhaps.  Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands all pay well over 50% tax but only on  high income earners. I think (I haven't researched it yet ) that these countries also provide more services to all their citizens while we in Canada have seen the slow erosion of services we once received.

What is the point of paying high taxes if you don't receive services and the services you need?

If  citizens are taxed in a burdensome way and the businesses too, how can anybody keep their businesses going and hire people so those people can have an income and keep the economy going?

Yet, the local governments and the provincial government (the federal government is often the culprit too) want to implement even more taxes.

No sooner was the Mayor reelected in November 2014 when  he said wanted a review of Council salaries. He felt they should get a raise for all the hard work they have to do.   That's a lofty sentiment.  However there are many in this province, including this most expensive City of Vancouver, who are barely making $10 an hour.  That is if they are lucky enough to be employed. How can they live on that and pay more for services of any kind?

In January 2015, the average monthly apartment rentals in Vancouver were $1584. If you were looking to purchase a home in the Greater Vancouver area (larger than Vancouver proper where prices are much higher), the benchmark price of a detached property in December 2014 was just over a million dollars.  The benchmark price of an attached unit was closer to half a million dollars.

The price of homes has gone steadily higher, year after year. It is mostly foreign buyers because most Canadians working for Canadian wages certainly cannot afford these prices. Prices are all relative to the consumer with many foreign investors thinking our real estate is "cheap" compared to where they come from.  A lot of these buyers do not even live here and their properties sit empty.  This scenario tells me that we as a province or country have done very little to ensure limited foreign investment and protections for citizens. (This became a bit of an issue in the last municipal election).  I am all for investment but there needs to be a balance.  Especially for those expected to pay the taxes to keep everything running.

The benchmark price for detached properties increased 8.1 per cent from December 2013 to $1,002,200. - See more at: http://www.rebgv.org/news-statistics/home-sale-and-listing-activity-reach-historical-norms-2014#sthash.0m2jJcS7.dpuf

The benchmark price for detached properties increased 8.1 per cent from December 2013 to $1,002,200. - See more at: http://www.rebgv.org/news-statistics/home-sale-and-listing-activity-reach-historical-norms-2014#sthash.0m2jJcS7.dpuf

The benchmark price for detached properties increased 8.1 per cent from December 2013 to $1,002,200. - See more at: http://www.rebgv.org/news-statistics/home-sale-and-listing-activity-reach-historical-norms-2014#sthash.0m2jJcS7.dpuf

Translink (the transportation authority in the Greater Vancouver area) also wants to subject the ratepayers to increased taxes to implement improvements to public transportation.  The City's mayor is the chairman of  the transit authority's Board of Directors and he is in favour of the increase.  He and many other high profile people, all of whom earn a far higher wage than $10 per hour, have mounted an enormous campaign to get voters to vote "Yes" to the increase in taxes.  It would amount to approximately $150 extra per year on top of our already high property taxes (due to the value of the land).

I was wondering who is funding the "Yes" campaign or where the money comes from.  Then today I read that the money being spent on the "Yes" campaign is $8M dollars and it comes out of taxpayer dollars. I presume that means the funds are coming from the Translink budget though I could be wrong.  Anyway, it is highly annoying to have my tax money being spent on a campaign I do not agree with just so that they can win a vote for a tax increase that I do not agree with to give it to a Board that is not capable of managing itself in the best interests of the tax paying public. Also to be asking for more money in this economic climate is the height of stupidity and arrogance.

Have a look here at what our public transit executives get paid in comparison to Seattle and Chicago executives. I've read that our executives have a broader scope of responsibilities and while that may be true I still think the salaries are outrageous.

On top of these overly handsome salaries, these CEOs have bungled the transportation budget over the past few years. Ineffectiveness coupled with bloated salaries means I intend to vote "no" in the transit referendum.  I don't want to give more money to bloated quasi government authorities despite the fact that we do indeed need to make more improvements to our transit system for a good many reasons.

I am tired of those at the pork barrel.  I'm also tired of elitist politicians who seem to think that the average taxpayer has magical pockets of money to pull out whenever there is a need.

As if this wasn't enough, my mother (and many other seniors) got a more than 10% increase in their monthly costs for residential health care. This is courtesy of the provincial health care system. Meanwhile, these same seniors only got a pension increase to match the cost of living index (COLA).  An increase of just under 2%

Is this any way to treat the elderly?

I am getting very fed up with our politicians.

That's my rant for this week.

Those of you who know me well know I never rant.

I have to be very disgruntled to get to that point.

My next post will be more positive.

Joining in with Our World Tuesday

Moment at McDonald's

It was one of our rare sunny, Spring days this year. I was enjoying looking out at the green grass, and cherry blossoms at the UBC campus.

This big tree and all it's lovely blossoms made a huge frame behind the McDonald restaurant's famous Golden Arches signage. 

The cherry trees that beautify Vancouver at this time each year, were gifts of the country of Japan.

In the early 1930s the mayors of both Kobe and Yokohama presented the Park Board with 500 Japanese cherry trees for planting at the Japanese cenotaph in Stanley Park honouring Japanese Canadians who served in WWI. And so, as the impact of cherry tree plantings began to reshape the city’s landscape, Vancouverites were soon smitten by their fleeting beauty, their clouds of blossoms, as they heralded spring’s arrival each year. (Source:  Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival).

Vancouver has about 55 varieties of cherry trees.  On the news the other night it was reported that some of the rare varieties of the trees now need help to thrive since the strict plant health regulations prevent importing trees from outside Canada.  The news report also featured a partnership between the University of BC's Botanical Garden and BCIT’s Biotechnology Department to help save these trees. Students are regenerating some of the rarest of the cherry trees by harvesting plant cuttings and growing them in test tubes before eventual transfer to greenhouses and then planting.  They are having good success in growing these cuttings and that means good news for those of us who live in Vancouver and enjoy the beautiful tree blossoms each year.

I'm linking up with Skywatch Friday. I hope you will have a chance to visit the link and view other beautiful skies from around the world.

Happy Skywatching!

Pink Everywhere

Gazing at pink fluff

Everywhere there is pink stuff

Pink is beautiful!
(I managed to get these snapshots at the University of BC today).


I'm joining Our World Tuesday today. Join in and have a look.