Wednesday was a spectacular day with glorious sunshine and fluffy white clouds. The sun came out after several rainy days but the temperature was still quite chilly.
On my walk I captured some beautiful flowers outside one of the local grocery stores. I just love the flowers in the foreground and the large store window capturing a reflection of the clouds and blue sky. You can see the leaves haven't come out on the deciduous trees yet.
By mid afternoon it turned mostly cloudy again though we expect sunshine and much warmer temperatures for the next week or so.
I've been keep very busy this month with a lot of small things including sewing alterations, reading, decluttering, cooking, appointments and so on.
A small containers of buttons broke open and the buttons scattered all over the larger container they were in. It spurred me on to do a little bit of a tidy up of some of the most often used sewing supplies. This will help me as I work on other projects.
3 small containers of sewing supplies sorted and organized
I've been decluttering a bit here and there. Nothing major but it all adds up. I'm also still trying to use up old toiletries. Some of them seem to have a bottomless supply. I'm adding everything to some large recycling bags and will do a count later.
In my reading, I finished reading the 5 fictional books in the photos below and one book on style. I enjoyed all of the books. My favourite pick was Ken Follet's Armour of Light followed by The Nightingale, The Venice Sketchbook, The Cafe by the Sea and the House of Fortune in that order. The Style for Everybody Guide was a very straightforward and well written, simplified guide to clothing and style. I've read a lot of them and I liked this one a lot because it is not so overwhelming in the information it presented.
Also completed in the last few weeks.
I've started reading a few books with a spiritual theme. Usually this kind of book requires more time for reading, reflection and retention. I'll probably pick up another novel to read in between study.
I took this moon shot a while back and haven't had a chance to share it yet.
I was out for a late walk and was happy to both see and capture this moon. It was so clear and bright.
Lately it seems a lot of my Skywatch Friday shots are taken in the night. Of course it's due to limited daylight at this time of year but that should soon change.
It's March and it might be nice to talk a bit about it.
The year is going by quickly.
1. March comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion. How has it made it's debut in your area?
March 1st was a cold and it rained very heavily at times. I stayed indoors.
2. Is St Patrick's Day something you observe?
I don't observe St. Patrick's Day. Where I live I've only ever seen it as a day for people to wear green and many go to an Irish pub for 'green' bear. No one I know observes a special dinner on that day. In more recent years there has been a St. Patrick's Day parade and there seems to be a bit more happening each year. There is a Ceilidh on March 15th and a concert of the Welsh Choir the next day. There is also a Celtic Festival that weekend. I've looked at the festival program and it seems like a lot of it is focussed on drinking so I don't participate. Besides which the weather is usually not very nice on St. Patrick's Day.
3. Do you observe Easter?
I do observe Easter.
4. What will those holidays see you doing this year?
It's usually a quiet time of reflection and gratitude for Christ's death and resurrection. Church's here like everywhere also focus on this message. It's also time for a holiday meal with one or two loved ones. Long ago, a much larger group of family and friends would gather together for Easter dinner but those days are long gone as are many of the people.
This time of year most of us in the western hemisphere are anticipating the arrival of the Spring season. So I've planted up some seeds in readiness for the garden season. Hopefully they won't sprout up too stringy and straggly.
Saturday night I took a walk to the garden to return a book called The Venice Sketchbook. It was a poignant read set in Venice, Italy during WW2. Once I got home I realized I had another book I needed to return. It had fallen to the side of the sofa and I didn't notice it until the next day when I was vacuuming.
I wanted to do more 'creating' in 2024 but haven't really gotten in the groove yet. I did make a few dishcloths. I was surprised to find a skein of cotton yarn at my local dollar store. I thought it would make 2 cloths but it only made 1.5. I returned to the store to buy another skein but there were none left. I tried another store location but they had none. I'm thinking that this was a one time offering so I don't hold out hope of finding more.
Some of you who've followed me for years may know that I love plants especially tropical ones for indoors. However it has proven impossible for me to grow them indoors. It just too cold with drafts in all the wrong places and lack of natural light is also a problem. As a result, I purchased a artificial bush last year and put some fairy lights on it. When I was out for a walk the other day I found this abandoned tree sitting on a bench outside a store. It didn't look like it belonged to anyone but to make sure I enquired inside the store. They told me that it had been sitting on the bench for three days and to please take it if I wanted. So I did. It now sits beside me on the sofa and I'm very happy with it as it is just the right height without being too wide in diameter.
I took this patio photo last week. Today the workers started laying the new foundation. I think they will make a lot of progress this week.
This is how I spent the first few days in March. I'm feeling happy and content and looking forward to Spring.
Joining in with Tuesday 4 this week. Thanks for stopping by!
Hello friends and fellow bloggers,
Happy March to you all!
A few days ago I shared some early cherry blossoms but since then it's turned colder. We're expecting very unsettled weather for the next week or so. I'm hoping consistently warmer temperatures arrive in a week or so. In the meantime, I'm preparing to plant some seeds so I have something to plant in the garden.
These sky photos were taken today around dinner time. The sky looks menacing but the temperature was much warmer than it was on Tuesday night when we had a bit of snow.
I baked a bit of bread last night. There's nothing nicer than freshly baked bread with jam and butter and tea on a cold night.
Happy New Week to you friends and fellow bloggers. This week we face the end of February and the beginning of March. I'm wondering if it will be a cold one or a warmer one. Right now the forecast seems to be for a cold one with possible snow once or twice this week but we will see. I guess I'm skeptical but anything can happen.
It's actually been somewhat warm here recently as evidenced by what I found yesterday (Saturday) in my neighbourhood. Today, although I don't have a photo, there were far more blossoms on the tree than there were yesterday. But later on Sunday the temperature plummeted.
Tonight when I went for a walk and a few errands, I had to wear my gloves to keep my fingertips warm. I hope the sudden cold won't harm the cherry blossoms. Although there have been some periods of great cold snaps around the province, even in Vancouver, there has not been enough snowfall overall. In fact, many ski hills were not able to open for their usual ski seasons due to lack of snow. All this is not good for the summer when it's predicted to be very hot once again.
In home news, I found this recipe in a magazine dedicated to one pot dinners. It's called Pecan Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Apples. I made it Saturday night and I omitted the pecans because I didn't have any. I also omitted the sugar because the balsamic vinegar and apples was enough to sweeten the dish. It turned out delicious. Now I have a new chicken dish to add to my repertoire when I need a quick and tasty meal. The other one pot chicken dish I like a lot is Creamy Tuscan Chicken. But I don't always have sun dried tomatoes on hand and I also don't always want to have a creamy dish.
This year I hope to do a lot more things creatively but I'm not off to a rousing start. I'm still reading a bit more than I'd planned but soon the garden/s need planting so we'll see how I make out. It's also tax time again and that always keeps me busy as I do the taxes for DH and I jointly. It means, I have to corral all the receipts for the both of us which is hard enough to do with one of us. I'm sure some of you understand what I mean.
Besides keeping busy in various ways, I'm still trying to be a bit creative. A friend in England sent me this adult colouring book. I see that I need better lighting to colour within the lines and since I like felt tip pens I think I need to work on pressure of ink application. Either that or buy some wooden crayons. How about you dear reader? Do you do any colouring? Do you have any tips for me? If you don't do any colouring, do you have any favourite hobbies?
We've had a few days of beautiful weather though now we are back to rain. I think Spring is just around the corner and I'm beginning to plan for what to plant at the community garden. My patio is being renovated and I'm not quite sure when it will be ready for planting.
I hope you are enjoying the season wherever you are in the world.
Joining in with Skywatch Friday this week. Have a wonderful week ahead.
I hope this month of February is going well for you.
Time is passing so quickly and I didn't have a chance to join in with Skywatch last Friday so here I am today.
We've been having mild and warmer weather for a few days but it is turning cold again. It was nice having a few days of unseasonably warm temperatures. Though I know that isn't the best for our water supply and our forest, my bones need a good warming and rest from the draftiness of winter.
I hope you're keeping warm enough or cool enough wherever you live.
It's the last Friday of the month! I hope it been a good month for you.
As for me, it's taken me awhile to hit my stride but that is not out of the ordinary for me. Each year it takes me a while to really get going no matter how organized I may be.
We've had heavy rainfall for a few days and thankfully it's melted all the snow. Today (Friday), the sky cleared for a bit and enabled us to clear the patio deck for the renovations that start next week. The preparations have taken long to get to this point. I'll be glad when it's all over and done and I look forward to a new patio and garden.
I'm joining in with Tuesday 4 meme where we are sharing about books and reading this week.
1. Do you have a favourite place to read? Maybe you can post a photo of it or describe it for us?
I can't really say I have a favourite place to read. I do tend to read in one corner of my sofa because I have a wall sconce above which helps illuminate my book while reading.
The photo is the most recent photo of my sofa but the look today is completely different. Gone is the black lamp. Instead I have a wall sconce on either side and changed out pillows, art and tchotchkes. If you look at the photo, I tend to sit on what you would see as the right side of the sofa. It's actually the left side of the sofa and I sit there because it's further from the window tp avoid drafts and it's closer to answer the phone if it rings.
I've also tried creating a reading nook in the bedroom. But that idea no longer works because we need room for DH's clothes, shoes and other things.
2. Some say reading makes a person more educated, more informed. Do you think novels do this in any way? Do you learn things from novels? Would you tell us what you have learned?
Yes, I think novels can make a person better educated or informed. Firstly, they can improve one's vocabulary if you choose novels that are a little more complex. I read a lot of novels many of which are historical fiction and many are stories set in other countries. I've been exposed to different cultures, been inspired to learn more about various historical events and learned how people lived and survived at various times in history.
3. Are there any books on your list to read right now?
My 'to read' list is always very long and I don't keep a comprehensive list of books I want to read. I've downloaded many free books on both Kindle and Kobo for a time when I may not be able to find a book to read at the library, lol. I also recently asked my library to curate a list of books for me to read based on my preferences and desires. I'm hoping to start on that reading list sometime this year. The book I'm reading at the moment is called The Covenant of Water, a book of my own choosing (and is pictured below).
4. Which books did you like the most and which did you dislike most?
Like many people do, I track my reading on the Goodreads website. I've discovered that historical fiction is the genre I read and enjoy most. I've read and loved so many books over the years but I've also read a lot of books that are barely satisfactory. Some of my favourite authors to date are: Ken Follett & Edward Rutherfurd both of whom write historical fiction. I've also enjoyed Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner), Abraham Verghese (Cutting Stones & Covenant of Water) and Rohintin Mistry is another fantastic writer (Family Matters, A Fine Balance).
Female writers also feature prominently in my reading. Over the years I've really enjoyed Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher, both of whom write novels set in the more recent history in Ireland and Scotland/England respectively. I also really like Lisa See who writes a combination of historical and contemporary stories set in different parts of Asia. All of her books are very interesting and keep me riveted. Here is the author talking about her book, Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane which is the first novel of hers I read.
An American-Canadian author I love is Sandra Gulland who wrote the Josephine B. (Bonaparte) trilogy. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian author, is another great writer whose stories captivate me and teach me more about Nigeria and racial issues from an African perspective. I've read her books, Half a Yellow Sun and Americanah, the latter is about race issues in the UK and USA.
Here is a link to the movie based on the book Half a Yellow Sun. I only just found it on line today. I haven't watched it except for the first 15 minutes or so and I enjoyed it.
There are a handful of books I didn't like but I'm not going to create a list of them because that would be a waste of time. Just top of mind though I do remember two books I didn't like much. One I read recently, and completed, is a popular book with excellent reviews. It's called, A Grandmother Begins The Story. I've linked it for you if you'd like to read more. I really wanted to like the book but sometimes things don't work out. The other book is Barack Obama's Audacity of Hope. I just remember being bored and I never completed it. Perhaps I will try again another day but there are so many other books to read. I did read an earlier book of his called, Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, which I enjoyed very much.
We've been having very cold weather for a week and in the last 2 days, a lot of snow. This is very unusual for us here in Vancouver though in the last few years the snow and cold has been increasing over the previous decades.
People were advised to stay home if possible on Wednesday so that there would be fewer accidents. I did go out late to pick up a book at the local library so I had an opportunity to take some photos. The first photo was taken on Tuesday after a significant snowfall. More snow is in the forecast for late Thursday.
I hope you are keeping warm enough if you are in the cold parts of the northern hemisphere.
Joining in with Skywatch Friday this week. Thank you for stopping by!
